|
The European Commission plans an initiative to decide on a common format for digital travel documents and make travelling easier. The European Commission aims to publish this initiative for the third quarter of 2023, with a proposal for a regulation being the most likely shape of the future text.
The European Commission considers different options, including:
· Digitalisation of travel documents based on a common EU standard without rules on facilitation: This option could include a range of legislative measures on a mandatory common EU standard for the digitalisation of travel documents within the EU. The European standard would diverge from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) DTC standard. Although the digital format of the document would be mandatory for all EU citizens, measures regarding travel facilitation would not, which allow Member States to adopt varying rules on travel facilitation with digital travel documents.
· Digitalisation of travel documents on the basis of the ICAO DTC standard: ICAO developed 3 Types of DTC standards: Type 1: an eMRTD (electronic machine readable travel documents) bound DTC which consists of a DTC-VC (Virtual Component) only, with the eMRTD as a physical authenticator; Type 2: an eMRTD-PC (Physical Component) bound – consists of DTC-VC and a DTC-PC in addition to the eMRTD; and Type 3: PC bound – consists of a DTC-VC and a DTC-PC but no eMRTD. The options should be evaluated and the one chosen for the implementation.
· Digitalisation of travel documents on a voluntary basis: By adopting the ICAO DTC standards, the EU and its Member States anticipate the digitalisation of travel globally and commit itself to providing EU citizens with a digital passport and digital identity card based on an internationally recognised standard. However, it would be up to individual Member States to decide whether to issue such documents and to allow facilitated travel or not.
· Obligatory digitalisation of travel documents and facilitation of travel: EU regulation would require Member States to implement the ICAO DTC standard and specific travel facilitation aspects with/without a transition period. By adopting the ICAO DTC standards, the EU and its Member States anticipate the digitalisation of travel globally and give EU citizens the subjective right to have a digital passport and a digital identity card based on an internationally recognised standard. Member States would be obliged to put in place specific travel facilitation measures for holders of digital passports and digital identity cards at some/all border-crossing points, e.g. advance border checks and border crossing with a biometric matching while using the e-gates or manual booths at border-crossing points.
· A digital passport/digital identity card allowing a full seamless experience: EU regulation would require Member States to implement the ICAO DTC standard and introduce mandatory travel facilitation measures in a way that allows users to cross borders without interacting with traditional e-gates or manual booths. These measures would exploit one-to-many biometric matching on the move, where all travelers are monitored and their biometric data are processed. These measures would rely on large-scale biometric matching and would enable travelers to pass borders without stopping for being controlled at a border check.
If you have any questions on this topic, please contact Camille Dornier - Policy Manager: camille.dornier@eurosmart.com
|
