Proposal for a Regulation establishing an application for the electronic submission of travel data (“EU Digital Travel application”) and amending Regulations (EU) 2016/399 and (EU) 2018/1726 and Council Regulation (EC) No 2252/2004, as regards the use of digital travel credentials

Author (Corporate)
Series Details COM (2024) 670
Publication Date 08/10/2024
Content Type ,

Summary:

Legislative initiative adopted by the European Commission on 8 October 2024 to establish an application for the electronic submission of travel data - also known as the EU Digital Travel application. It seeks to introduce amendments to Regulation (EU) 2016/399, Regulation (EU) 2018/1726 and Council Regulation (EC) No 2252/2004 as regards the use of digital travel credentials.

Further information:

Uniform measures on border control at its external borders are seen as essential to ensuring the proper functioning of the Schengen area, as well as the internal security of the European Union (EU). Having in place systematic border checks and highly secure travel documents facilitates legitimate entry and stay for both EU citizens and third-country nationals.

Since the entry into force of the Schengen Borders Code (2006), great advances in standardising controls at its external borders have been made. However, the emergence of new technologies and large-scale IT systems used at the borders, alongside significant increases in traveller flows, led to a marked change to the environment in which border checks are carried out. Since the entry into force of Regulation (EU) 2017/458, EU citizens have also been subject to systematic checks when crossing the EU external borders, resulting in longer waiting times albeit increased security due to checks against relevant databases.

In 2021, the European Commission adopted a Schengen Strategy comprising plans towards further digitalising procedures at the external borders, including an initiative on digitalising travel documents and facilitating travel. It identified the need to increase security in the Schengen area while allowing for a smoother and faster border crossing for travellers.

The proposed Regulation seeks to:

  1. establish a uniform standard for digital travel credentials and a common EU application for using them (EU Digital Travel application);
  2. allow people to use digital travel credentials to cross external borders based on a uniform EU technical solution;
  3. enable border authorities to carry out checks based on these credentials.

The draft law was adopted by the European Commission on 8 October 2024 alongside a draft Council Regulation on the issuance of and technical standards for digital travel credentials based on identity cards.

Source Link Link to Main Source https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=COM:2024:670:FIN
Related Links
Official
EUR-LEX: SWD(2024)670: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Subsidiarity Grid https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2024:670:FIN
EUR-LEX: SWD(2024)671: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Impact Assessment Report https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2024:671:FIN
EUR-LEX: SWD(2024)672: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Executive Summary of the Impact Assessment Report https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2024:672:FIN
European Commission: DG Communication: Priorities 2019-2024: European Digital Identity https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/europe-fit-digital-age/european-digital-identity_en
European Commission: DG Migration & Home Affairs: Document security https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen-borders-and-visa/document-security_en
European Commission: Press Release, 08/10/2024: Commission proposes an EU Digital Travel application for easier and safer travel https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_24_5047
European Commission: Questions and Answers on EU Digital Travel application for easier and safer travel (8 October 2024) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_24_5101

News
Dutchnews.nl, 09/10/2024: EU Commission proposes to make passports and IDs digital https://www.dutchnews.nl/2024/10/eu-commission-proposes-to-make-passports-and-ids-digital/
The Local (Europe), 10/10/2024: EU unveils plans to make passports and IDs digital for Schengen travel https://www.thelocal.com/20241010/eu-unveils-plans-to-make-passports-and-ids-digital-for-schengen-travel
Euronews, 10/10/2024: A passport on your smartphone: EU pledges faster, smoother border checks by 2030 https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/10/08/a-passport-on-your-smartphone-eu-pledges-faster-smoother-border-checks-by-2030

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