IET Biometrics (Mar 2023)

Facilitating free travel in the Schengen area—A position paper by the European Association for Biometrics

  • Christoph Busch,
  • Farzin Deravi,
  • Dinusha Frings,
  • Els Kindt,
  • Ralph Lessmann,
  • Alexander Nouak,
  • Jean Salomon,
  • Mateus Achcar,
  • Fernando Alonso‐Fernandez,
  • Daniel Bachenheimer,
  • David Bethell,
  • Josef Bigun,
  • Matthew Brawley,
  • Guido Brockmann,
  • Enrique Cabello,
  • Patrizio Campisi,
  • Aleksandrs Cepilovs,
  • Miles Clee,
  • Mickey Cohen,
  • Christian Croll,
  • Andrzej Czyżewski,
  • Bernadette Dorizzi,
  • Martin Drahansky,
  • Pawel Drozdowski,
  • Catherine Fankhauser,
  • Julian Fierrez,
  • Marta Gomez‐Barrero,
  • Georg Hasse,
  • Richard Guest,
  • Ekaterina Komleva,
  • Sebastien Marcel,
  • Gian Luca Marcialis,
  • Laurent Mercier,
  • Emilio Mordini,
  • Stefance Mouille,
  • Pavlina Navratilova,
  • Javier Ortega‐Garcia,
  • Dijana Petrovska,
  • Norman Poh,
  • Istvan Racz,
  • Ramachandra Raghavendra,
  • Christian Rathgeb,
  • Christophe Remillet,
  • Uwe Seidel,
  • Luuk Spreeuwers,
  • Brage Strand,
  • Sirra Toivonen,
  • Andreas Uhl

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1049/bme2.12107
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 2
pp. 112 – 128

Abstract

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Abstract Due to migration, terror‐threats and the viral pandemic, various EU member states have re‐established internal border control or even closed their borders. European Association for Biometrics (EAB), a non‐profit organisation, solicited the views of its members on ways which biometric technologies and services may be used to help with re‐establishing open borders within the Schengen area while at the same time mitigating any adverse effects. From the responses received, this position paper was composed to identify ideas to re‐establish free travel between the member states in the Schengen area. The paper covers the contending needs for security, open borders and fundamental rights as well as legal constraints that any technological solution must consider. A range of specific technologies for direct biometric recognition alongside complementary measures are outlined. The interrelated issues of ethical and societal considerations are also highlighted. Provided a holistic approach is adopted, it may be possible to reach a more optimal trade‐off with regards to open borders while maintaining a high‐level of security and protection of fundamental rights. European Association for Biometrics and its members can play an important role in fostering a shared understanding of security and mobility challenges and their solutions.

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