Plan to check EU citizens at external borders backed by civil liberties MEPs

The European Parliament's civil liberties committee approved a proposal from the European Commission to systematically check all EU citizens entering or leaving the European Union.

Members of the committee amended the proposal to enable member states to run targeted checks, as an exception, in the event of lengthty delays and provided that security is not at risk.

The Commission published its proposal in December 2015, calling for the Schengen Borders Code to provide for systematic controls of EU nationals, including the verification of biometric information, against relevant databases at external borders of the Schengen area. This followed a call by the Council of the European Union in November 2015 for such proposal to be prepared.

ESO: Background information: Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation No 562/2006 (EC) as regards the reinforcement of checks against relevant databases at external borders http://www.europeansources.info/record/proposal-for-a-regulation-of-the-european-parliament-and-of-the-council-amending-regulation-no-562-2006-ec-as-regards-the-reinforcement-of-checks-against-relevant-databases-at-external-borders/

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