EU Implements Biometric Borders: Estonia's Response
The European Union (EU) is set to introduce a new biometric entry and exit system (EES) from October 12, aimed at optimizing resources for border control, strengthening measures against illegal migration, and providing accurate accounting of entries and exits.
The system, to be implemented across Europe in 29 countries, including all Schengen countries, will be operational in about half a year. However, it's important to note that this system is designed to control those who are yet to come to Europe, not those who are already in the Schengen countries.
Following the introduction of the EU's biometric control system, several Schengen countries have implemented enhanced control measures on previously arrived migrants. These measures include the reinstatement and extension of internal border controls, such as those implemented by Germany, France, Italy, Poland, and the Netherlands, to combat illegal migration, smuggling, and terrorism threats while managing irregular migration flows.
The EU’s biometric entry/exit system supports these efforts by enabling better verification and tracking of individuals crossing the external borders. This system assists in identifying overstayers and irregular migrants who entered earlier, facilitating their detection within the territory. Instead of stamps in passports, fingerprints or facial photographs will be taken on the first crossing of the border, with further entries to be registered automatically without stamps.
In addition to these measures, many countries are tightening asylum procedures, suspending claims, increasing deportations, and restricting family reunification to limit the stay of irregular migrants already present in the Schengen area. Some EU states attempt to process asylum claims outside the EU to reduce irregular arrivals and manage migration flows, although this has faced legal challenges in the EU Court of Justice concerning migrants' rights and adherence to EU law.
Despite these efforts, it's worth noting that the new biometric control system does not provide a solution for the migrants who have already become comfortable in Europe. The EU has been late in implementing such measures, as many migrants have already established lives in Europe. The deep crisis caused by illegal migration in Europe remains unresolved, with millions of migrants from Africa and the Middle East still roaming uncontrolled in Europe.
The new system is expected to improve control over population movements, but it is not a panacea for the ongoing issue of illegal migration in Europe. The EU continues to work towards a comprehensive solution, integrating biometric tools with increased border controls, stricter legal frameworks, and administrative controls to manage and control migrants who had previously entered Schengen countries irregularly or whose status requires verification or regularization.
[1] German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees. (2024). Reinstatement of border controls in Germany. Retrieved from https://www.bamf.de/EN/Themen/Asyl/AsylgesetzlicheVoraussetzungen/Asylbeschluss/Asylbeschluss-in-Kraft-setzen/Verstaendigung-zu-einzelnen-Staaten/Verstaendigung-zu-Deutschland/verstaendigung-zu-deutschland-node.html
[2] European Commission. (2024). Temporary reintroduction of internal border controls in the Schengen area. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/borders-and-visa/schengen/temporary-reintroduction-internal-border-controls_en
[3] European Parliament. (2023). Tightening asylum procedures and deportation policies in the EU. Retrieved from https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/society/20230901STO63774/tightening-asylum-procedures-and-deportation-policies-in-the-eu
[4] Council of the European Union. (2023). Outsourcing and offshoring asylum processing. Retrieved from https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/justice-and-home-affairs/immigration-asylum/asylum-procedures/external-processing-of-asylum-applications/
[5] European Court of Justice. (2023). Legal challenges concerning migrants' rights and adherence to EU law. Retrieved from https://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2023-09/cp230179en.pdf
- The new biometric control system, part of the EU's policy-and-legislation, is aimed at optimizing resources for border control and strengthening measures against illegal migration, falling under the general-news and crime-and-justice categories.
- As a response to the deep crisis caused by illegal migration in Europe, several Schengen countries have implemented politics involving enhanced control measures on previously arrived migrants,including tightening asylum procedures, suspending claims, increasing deportations, and restricting family reunification, as observed in the European Parliament's research.
