EU: Council pushes to "increase the feed and use of biometric data" in draft conclusions on security checks and irregular migration
15 May 2017
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EU
Council pushes to "increase the feed and use of biometric data" in draft conclusions on security checks and irregular migration
15.5.17
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"While stressing that those opting for irregular movements are often eligible for international protection, Member States have a collective responsibility to protect our communities and those seeking protection themselves by deterring and preventing the entry of persons who are a threat to public security. When faced with hundreds, if not thousands, of arrivals and/or rescues per day, Member State authorities are confronted with complex security challenges. Currently it is up to Member States to decide not only when to perform security checks but also which national or European databases to check, as there is no common approach between the Member States in this field. The effectiveness of cross-checking both regular and irregular migrants against security databases depends to a large extent on the availability of biometrics. Illegal border-crossings are often undocumented, which means that it is impossible to run a check against any security database unless biometrics are utilised.
(...)
STRESSING the need to feed databases and increase the feed and the use of biometric data..." (emphasis added)
See: Draft Council conclusions recommending security checks in case of irregular migration(9039/17, LIMITE, 11 May 2017, pdf)
Background: Council plans to "map" security checks on refugees, migrants and EU citizens at external borders on all available databases(Statewatch News Online, 12 March 2017)
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