Improving the Cross-border Flow of Third Country Nationals

Komisja Europejska FP7

The paper delves into several issues related to the European border crossing processes. It is motivated by the ongoing numerous research on automated border control (ABC) systems, which have been tested at a number of EU border crossing points (BCP) of various type. Moreover, taking into account the continuously growing influx of third country nationals (TCNs) travellers into the EU, the paper presents the complex procedures this group of passengers is currently required to go through. Facing these issues, potential remedies to highlighted problems are indicated including legislative as well as technological in nature. Central to the discussion, is the proposal to facilitate the cross-border movement of TCNs thanks to the ABC technologies and processes developed within EU-funded FastPass project. Based on the carried out technological and desk research, the paper provides a contribution to the further discussion on the automation of border processes for TCNs entering the European Union/Schengen zone pinpointing possibilities as well as obstacles lying ahead.