Why the Entry-Exit System requires a mobile focus
Verification within the borders of the Schengen Zone is one of the crucial elements of the Entry-Exit System. To effectively manage the increasing flow of passengers, a scalable and secure solution is required.
A mobile era of border control
Millions of people per year cross the external borders of the Schengen Area. Scalable border management has become a high priority for the European Union. Smart borders will facilitate the increase of passengers while regulating internal security.
Captured biometrics such as facial image and fingerprints are currently stored in local databases of each EU Member State, resulting in a fragmented system. The Entry-Exit System will bring the different electronic systems together.
Verification within the borders of the Schengen Zone is another crucial element of EES. Nick Perkins, President EMEA at Laxton Group: “EES is a two-faced approach. We are defining how we interact with travellers when they enter and exit and how we interact with Third Country Nationals within the EU borders.”
A user-friendly method is essential for those who put public security at the forefront to execute land operations effectively. Advanced mobile biometric solutions help law enforcement officials and border security guards focus entirely on public safety.
Mobile devices for any infrastructure
Mobile biometric devices will allow Member States to accurately identify any threats, fraud or visa overstayers and cut the processing time.
“Imagine working on the coastline of Greece where there’s little identity infrastructure possible. A private sailing boat comes by, and the passengers go ashore to buy groceries. There’s no opportunity for them to interact with a border post. It would be difficult for a coast guard to verify their identity and visa status. You will need to be able to interact quickly and effectively.”
From pen to fingerprint
Border crossings are fast-paced, and the user experience must be exceptional. Tablets, handheld devices and mobile registration kits are designed with precisely that in mind for every kind of border point. Perkins: “Tablets are beneficial for airlines.
Now, it is required to fill in a landing card manually. Think about capturing the biometrics of passengers during the flight. This will increase the speed of the immigration process at the destination for the passengers. At the same time, it will decrease the volume of work executed by border guards on the ground.”
Create an optimised workflow
We are less than a year away from implementing and being eu-LISA compliant. The solution has to work for border management, border guards and travellers. “There are two key factors for EES: technology and processes. We need to provide reliable and user-friendly equipment and at the same time define a workflow that eliminates most of the administrative tasks for border guards.”
Pre-enrolment will be a key factor in handling large volumes of travellers entering Europe. Biometrics can be captured when a visa is issued or at a self-service kiosk en route to passport control. This will make the process comfortable for the passengers, and border authorities will be able to focus on their duty of granting authorisation.
