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European Commission wants digital travel app

The European Commission has proposed digitised passports and identity cards for anyone entering or leaving the Schengen area to speed up border controls and ensure smoother and more secure travel.

It wants:

• Common framework for use of digital travel credentials,
• ‘EU Digital Travel' app, for travellers to create and store their digital travel credentials.

Digital travel credentials are a digital version of the data stored on passports and identity cards and would include the information contained in the chip of the passport or ID card, but not fingerprints.

The proposal is for voluntary use of the digital version of documents, free of charge.

Fraudsters

The commission believes that this will deter fraudsters and improve security, as well as improving border controls’ efficiency.

Advance checks will allow border management authorities to focus on migrant smuggling and detecting cross-border criminals, it added.

The EU Digital Travel app will be available for all EU and non-EU citizens with a biometric passport or EU identity card, travelling to or from the Schengen Area.

The app will require user consent before processing personal data.

The Council of the EU and the European Parliament must now agree on the proposals.