Promoting a single EU Border Control standard

Kaba’s Border Control solutions include a sensor barrier with interlock function. A document reader outside the gate and a biometric device inside provide an efficient control of passengers’ identity.

Kaba’s Border Control solutions include a sensor barrier with interlock function. A document reader outside the gate and a biometric device inside provide an efficient control of passengers’ identity.

Around €500 million is being invested in Border Control Technology Deployment in the period to 2011, financed predominantly by Member States. These border management developments provide opportunities for airports as they allow for better facilitation when appropriately implemented in the context of an integrated and seamless passenger flow. “Close cooperation between authorities and airports is key,” said Nanne Onland, Chair of the ACI EUROPE Border Control Taskforce. “The Taskforce aims to support this cooperation by sharing information, forming opinions and provide best practices that can be used by the various Member States and airports across Europe.”

ACI EUROPE strongly believes that the use of automated means of border control and the standardisation of border management processes throughout the EU is essential.

Federico Bonaudi, Policy Manager for Facilitation, Intermodality, Parliamentary Affairs and SMAG, explained that ACI EUROPE recommends that European, national authorities and airport operators work in close cooperation in order to develop efficient and intelligence-driven processes for border control aimed at promoting a single EU Border Control standard that will reduce security risks while successfully managing the passenger flow.

The three key goals are that systems deployed at member airports should: “efficiently manage the passenger flow in our airports by simplifying the border control processes while ensuring that high security standards are met”; “ensure system interoperability and promote the highest possible level of operational harmonisation within the EU”; and “make use of publicly financed solutions in order to secure a sufficient level of coordinated deployment within our airports”.

Edgar Beugels, Research and Development Unit, Frontex, explained that only harmonised solutions within the EU can lead to an effective border management. “In this regard, the EU pursues the integrated border management approach where interoperability plays a crucial role. Integration requires harmonised rules, procedures and processes, compatibility and interoperability of technologies deployed at borders and common requirements for training. Thus it requires cooperation and development of best practices, specifications and guidelines,” he said.

Use of biometrics

ACI EUROPE recommends the use of internationally standardised globally interoperable biometrics embedded in Machine Readable Travel Documents (MRTDs) and on standardised formats of biometric data. “We fully recognise the operational benefits of a biometrically-enabled automated border control solution, developed in accordance with the recommendations set by ICAO, to improve the passenger processing time in our airports and therefore enhance the quality of their travel experience,” said Bonaudi.

A harmonised approach, focusing on the passenger, is essential and can be achieved through the use of a universally adaptable and recognisable standard for biometric passports based on integrated RFID chips and MRTDs.

Onland said: “With respect to MRTDs, ICAO recommends facial recognition as the primary biometric and fingerprint and iris recognition as biometrics of choice. The EU has chosen fingerprint as the second biometric of choice. This choice was made for a specific purpose: to add additional – electronic – security features to existing travel documents to have a more secure document.”

Importantly for airports, in line with IATA’s Simplifying Passenger Travel Program, travellers will use these MRTDs across the entire airport process, from check-in/baggage drop off to boarding. “This would mean that the biometrics in the document can be used to make the identity of the traveller known to the authorities, as well as airlines through a one-stop-shop principle,” said Onland.

Registered travellers

Registered Traveller (RT) programmes, such as Privium at Schiphol, can serve as ‘green lanes’. “By knowing travellers in advance, they can in principle pass with minimum control,” said Nanne Onland, Chair of the ACI EUROPE Border Control Taskforce.

Registered Traveller (RT) programmes, such as Privium at Schiphol, can serve as ‘green lanes’. “By knowing travellers in advance, they can in principle pass with minimum control,” said Nanne Onland, Chair of the ACI EUROPE Border Control Taskforce.

Registering travellers and allowing them to self-process through automated border control machines that can read a variety of electronic travel documents while controlling their registered biometric data, would enable authorities and airports to process more travellers within existing airport space without compromising standards of security, border protection and facilitation.

Registered Traveller (RT) programmes, such as Privium at Schiphol, can serve as ‘green lanes’, explained Onland. “By registering travellers in advance, they can in principle pass with minimum control,” he said. “The challenge for airport operators is to be able to have optimum processing capability, capacity usage and a hassle free experience from a traveller point of view. RT therefore seems to be a good win-win between authorities, passengers and airport operators.”

The next generation of Registered Traveler programmes is all about linking individual national programmes to one another and at the same time making sure the traveller does not have to apply for each individual programme over and over again. A good example of interoperable RT programmes is the FLUX arrangement that links the Netherlands Privium programme to the US Global Entry programme. “The traveller is facilitated through one-stop-shop application and enrolment processes. After the one-year pilot (April 2010), more countries are expected to link their national RT programme into the arrangement, so that members of these programmes will enjoy the benefits of fast lane border passage into all associated countries. FLUX is currently available between Schiphol and at 20 major airports in the US,” said Onland.

Ultimately, a harmonised approach, building on ICAO standards and the recommendations of the Simplifying Passenger Travel Program, is key to ensuring effective border management processes. The design and deployment of interoperable, automated border control systems will benefit public authorities, airport operators, airlines and passengers – a win-win-win-win situation.


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