By SPA
Brussels : The European Union’s top justice official on Wednesday called for a massive shake-up of the bloc’s border security, recommending that all visitors be screened and fingerprinted and a satellite surveillance system be set up to keep illegal migrants out, ap reported.
EU Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini said EU nations had to use the most advanced technology to reach the highest level of security to prevent visitors from overstaying their welcome in Europe and to prevent terrorists from entering. Frattini’s proposals, if approved by all 27 EU governments, would represent one of the largest security overhauls in the EU and could cost billions of euros.
Civil liberties and human rights advocates have already criticized the plans as an attempt to keep out unwanted foreigners from Africa and other poor regions under the veiled excuse of fighting crime and terrorism. They also decry the plans as an attempt to move to a surveillance society, trampling on the right to privacy.
The sweeping measures would replicate many of the border checks already being rolled out in the United States, but would go further in demanding EU citizens also submit fingerprints to participate in computerized fast-track entry-exit customs controls.