By EuAsiaNews
Brussels: The European Commission unveiled plans Wednesday which include biometrics – facial image and fingerprints – for visitors from third countries to the European Union’s border-free Schengen area.
Announcing the “border management package,” to the press in Brussels, EU Commissioner for justice, freedom and security, Franco Frattini said the aim of the proposals are to fight illegal immigration, terrorism and organised crime. .
“This package designs a completely new way of controlling our borders”, Frattini said.
The plan includes an entry/exit electronic register, designed to monitor all non-EU nationals admitted to the 24-member Schengen zone, starting from 2015.
“I’m the only one, I would say in the world, proposing that, in the European Register Traveller Programme, opening automatically the entry at the airport will be extended to non Europeans. In no other places in the world, states or unions of states, have made a proposal to extend to non nationals the same guarantees that are offered to nationals,” noted the EU Commissioner.
For his part, Jonathan Faull, Director General of the European Commission’s Justice, Freedom and Security department, told reporters that the proposed plan will sped up the visa process for bonafide travelers from third countries.
“We are not adding new criteria. We are accelerating and simplifying the process,” said Faull.
The Commission’s ambitious plan will now be discussed and debated in the European Parliament and the EU Council of Ministers before it can become EU legislation, if they approve it.
All EU member states except Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and the UK are part of the Schengen area.
Non-EU members Norway and Iceland also belong to the passport-free travel zone. For non-EU nationals, a Schengen visa allows travel across all the participating countries.