Visas

Thales and Inetum Deliver Smarter Border Management at Spanish Valencia and Bilbao Airports

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, March 25, 2021
Security, Air, Technology, Transport, Software, Networks, Philosophy, Articles, Branches of philosophy, Border control, International law, Travel, Visas, Thales of Miletus, Airport

Thales, leader in digital security, and Inetum, European leader in digital services and solutions, provide the airports of Valencia and Bilbao with more than 45 Automatic Border Control gates ( ABC Gates ) leveraging facial recognition and automatic document verification.

Key Points: 
  • Thales, leader in digital security, and Inetum, European leader in digital services and solutions, provide the airports of Valencia and Bilbao with more than 45 Automatic Border Control gates ( ABC Gates ) leveraging facial recognition and automatic document verification.
  • Thales is responsible for the identity verification and smart access control, while Inetum implements manual verifiers and the real-time monitoring system.
  • Thales has strong international experience in smart border management at airports.
  • The company is also responsible for comprehensive border control systems, including airports, ports and border crossings for multiple countries.

Practical guidance on border controls and fundamental rights at external land borders

Retrieved on: 
Friday, July 24, 2020
Organizations, International organizations, International law, World, Border control, Travel, Visas, European Union, Fundamental Rights Agency

The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) publishes new practical guidance on dealing with fundamental rights concerns at the EU external land borders.

Key Points: 
  • The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) publishes new practical guidance on dealing with fundamental rights concerns at the EU external land borders.
  • The guidance offers practical tips that will help border guards respect peoples fundamental rights in their daily work.
  • The guidance Border controls and fundamental rights at external land borders contains practical tips for border-management staff in five areas:

    It gives examples of concrete actions that border guards and other competent authorities should take at operational level to uphold peoples fundamental rights in their daily work.

  • See all FRA practical guidance >>>

Council agrees to start lifting travel restrictions for residents of some third countries

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, July 1, 2020
Foreign relations of the European Union, Identity documents, Law enforcement in Europe, Multi-speed Europe, Schengen Area, Visas

The Council today adopted a recommendation on the gradual lifting of the temporary restrictions on non-essential travel into the EU.

Key Points: 
  • The Council today adopted a recommendation on the gradual lifting of the temporary restrictions on non-essential travel into the EU.
  • Travel restrictions should be lifted for countries listed in the recommendation, with this list being reviewed and, as the case may be, updated every two weeks.
  • For countries where travel restrictions continue to apply, the following categories of people should be exempted from the restrictions:

    Schengen associated countries (Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) also take part in this recommendation.

  • A Member State should not decide to lift the travel restrictions for non-listed third countries before this has been decided in a coordinated manner.

Press release - MEPs call for free movement across borders to be swiftly and fully re-established

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, June 20, 2020
Continents, Politics of Europe, World, Law enforcement in Europe, Multi-speed Europe, Schengen Area, Visas, International law, European Union, Border control

MEPs reject any uncoordinated, bilateral action by individual EU countries and highlight the principle of non-discrimination in the reopening of borders.

Key Points: 
  • MEPs reject any uncoordinated, bilateral action by individual EU countries and highlight the principle of non-discrimination in the reopening of borders.
  • MEPs also urgently call for a discussion on a Recovery Plan for Schengen to prevent any temporary internal border controls from becoming semi-permanent.
  • Without the return to a fully functional Schengen Area, we are still missing an essential stepping-stone on our way to recovery.
  • A complete return to free movement, no discrimination, mutual trust and solidarity are of utmost importance and core values of the EU.

Article - Schengen key to recovery: interview with civil liberties committee chair

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, June 11, 2020
Law enforcement in Europe, Politics of Europe, European Union, Multi-speed Europe, Schengen Area, Visas, Continents, Schengen, European Union law, European Economic Area, Visa policy of the Schengen Area

Our committee has been reminding member states that they are bound by European law, the Schengen borders code.

Key Points: 
  • Our committee has been reminding member states that they are bound by European law, the Schengen borders code.
  • The law says that all restrictions should be time-framed and that the grounds for suspension should be reasonable and proportional.
  • Read more on what the EU can do about the reopening of Schengen borders

    Does the Schengen zone need better coordination and governance?

  • Watch the full interview, which also delved into Schengen enlargement, migration, asylum and the use of personal data in the fight against Covid-19, on our Facebook page.

Press release - Returning to free movement across borders is of utmost importance

Retrieved on: 
Friday, June 5, 2020
Law enforcement in Europe, Politics of Europe, Continents, Europe, Multi-speed Europe, Schengen Area, Visas, European integration, Schengen

They stress that a swift and coordinated return to a fully functional Schengen area is of utmost importance to safeguard freedom of movement, one of the main achievements of European integration, and to ensure the EUs economic recovery after the pandemic.

Key Points: 
  • They stress that a swift and coordinated return to a fully functional Schengen area is of utmost importance to safeguard freedom of movement, one of the main achievements of European integration, and to ensure the EUs economic recovery after the pandemic.
  • Restrictions on freedom of movement could be lifted where the public health situation in neighbouring regions has comparably improved.
  • Except for these three countries, Cyprus and Ireland, all EU countries are part of the Schengen area.
  • The plenary is expected to vote on the resolution in its plenary session taking place 17-19 June.

Press release - Returning to free movement across borders is of utmost importance

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, June 4, 2020
Law enforcement in Europe, Politics of Europe, Continents, Europe, Multi-speed Europe, Schengen Area, Visas, European integration, Schengen

They stress that a swift and coordinated return to a fully functional Schengen area is of utmost importance to safeguard freedom of movement, one of the main achievements of European integration, and to ensure the EUs economic recovery after the pandemic.

Key Points: 
  • They stress that a swift and coordinated return to a fully functional Schengen area is of utmost importance to safeguard freedom of movement, one of the main achievements of European integration, and to ensure the EUs economic recovery after the pandemic.
  • Restrictions on freedom of movement could be lifted where the public health situation in neighbouring regions has comparably improved.
  • Except for these three countries, Cyprus and Ireland, all EU countries are part of the Schengen area.
  • The plenary is expected to vote on the resolution in its plenary session taking place 17-19 June.

IDEMIA and Sopra Steria Chosen by eu-LISA to Build the New Shared Biometric Matching System (sBMS) for Border Protection of the Schengen Area

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, June 3, 2020
Security, Nanotechnology, Audio, Video, Other Professional Services, Other Technology, Telecommunications, Software, Networks, Finance, Internet, Hardware, Banking, Data management, Professional services, Consumer electronics, VoIP, Technology, Mobile, Wireless, Law enforcement in Europe, Multi-speed Europe, Schengen Area, Visas, Schengen, Politics of Europe, Continents, Europe, IDEMIA, Sopra Steria

View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200603005529/en/

Key Points: 
  • View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200603005529/en/
    The contract was awarded following a competitive call for tender (LISA/2019/RP/05 EES BMS and sBMS) by eu-LISA.
  • Its duration is four years, with an option for an extension of up to six years.
  • The Schengen area, a travel zone where 26 European countries have abolished their internal borders, is key to facilitate the free and unrestricted movement of people.
  • The use of the latest biometric technologies makes it possible to ensure the protection of the external borders in the long term.

Belarus: EU concludes agreements on visa facilitation and readmission

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, May 28, 2020
Visas, Law enforcement in Europe, Multi-speed Europe, Schengen Area, Travel visa, Politics of Europe, Europe, Visa policy of the Schengen Area, Visa history of Russia

The Council today adopted two decisions to conclude a visa facilitation agreement and a readmission agreement with Belarus.

Key Points: 
  • The Council today adopted two decisions to conclude a visa facilitation agreement and a readmission agreement with Belarus.
  • The visa facilitation agreement will make it easier and cheaper for Belarus citizens travelling to the Schengen area and EU citizens travelling to Belarus to obtain a visa.
  • It also reduces the general fee for processing visa applications to 35 euros.
  • The readmission agreement sets out clear obligations and procedures for EU member states and Belarus on the readmission of citizens illegally residing in the territory of the other party without authorisation.

Article - Border controls in Schengen due to coronavirus: what can the EU do?

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, May 20, 2020
Law enforcement in Europe, Continents, Europe, European Economic Area, Multi-speed Europe, Schengen Area, Visas, Schengen, Luxembourg, Schengen, Schengen acquis, Visa policy of the Schengen Area

MEPs demand that the passport-free Schengen zone returns to its full functioning as soon as possible.

Key Points: 
  • MEPs demand that the passport-free Schengen zone returns to its full functioning as soon as possible.
  • The Commission should take on a key role in restoring freedom of movement and firstly for crucial categories such as cross-border workers.
  • According to the current Schengen rules, EU countries can - for a limited period - introduce border checks at their internal borders if there is a serious threat to public policy or internal security.
  • Read more how Parliament is strengthening the Schengen system and improving border security.