Feasibility and Implications of Lowering the Fingerprinting Age For
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Feasibility and implications of lowering the fingerprinting age for children and on storing a scanned copy of the visa applicants’ travel document in the Visa Information System (VIS) Final Report Ecorys Netherlands BV Fraunhofer IGD Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam [March 2018] EUROPEAN COMMISSION Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs Directorate B — Migration, Mobility and Innovation Unit B.2 — Visa Policy and document security Contact: HOME/VIS E-mail: [email protected] European Commission B-1049 Brussels EUROPEAN COMMISSION Feasibility and implications of lowering the fingerprinting age for children and on storing a scanned copy of the visa applicants’ travel document in the Visa Information System (VIS) Final Report Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs Feasibility and implications of lowering the fingerprinting age for children and on storing a scanned copy of the visa applicants’ travel document in the Visa Information System (VIS) EUROPE DIRECT is a service to help you find answers to your questions about the European Union Freephone number (*): 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 (*) The information given is free, as are most calls (though some operators, phone boxes or hotels may charge you) LEGAL NOTICE This document has been prepared for the European Commission however it reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. More information on the European Union is available on the Internet (http://www.europa.eu). Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2018 PDF ISBN 978-92-79-86991-4 doi: 10.2837/451825 DR-03-18-036-EN-N © European Union, 2018 Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. 4 Feasibility and implications of lowering the fingerprinting age for children and on storing a scanned copy of the visa applicants’ travel document in the Visa Information System (VIS) TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface ........................................................................................................................ 7 Glossary ...................................................................................................................... 9 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 11 1.1. Context ...................................................................................................... 11 1.2. Objectives and scope of the study ................................................................. 13 1.3. Fundamental Rights Impacts......................................................................... 14 1.4. Methodology ............................................................................................... 14 2. CURRENT SITUATION ............................................................................................ 19 2.1. The Visa Information System (VIS) ............................................................... 19 2.2. The visa application process ......................................................................... 20 2.3. VIS in the long-term European perspective ..................................................... 24 3. TOPIC 1. TRAVEL DOCUMENT COPY ........................................................................ 25 3.1. Introduction ............................................................................................... 25 3.2. Why the EU should act ................................................................................. 40 3.3. Policy objectives: What is to be achieved? ...................................................... 41 3.4. Policy options.............................................................................................. 41 3.5. Analysis of Impacts ..................................................................................... 51 3.6. Comparison of options ................................................................................. 71 4. TOPIC 2. CHILD FINGERPRINTS ............................................................................. 83 4.1. Problem definition ....................................................................................... 84 4.2. Why should the EU act? ............................................................................... 95 4.3. Policy objectives: What is to be achieved? ...................................................... 95 4.4. Policy options.............................................................................................. 95 4.5. Impacts ..................................................................................................... 98 4.6. Comparison of the options .......................................................................... 111 5. CONCLUSIONS ................................................................................................... 115 5.1. Conclusions Topic 1 ................................................................................... 115 5.2. Conclusions Topic 2 ................................................................................... 115 Annex I. Statistical data on immigration enforcement in the EU ....................................... 117 Annex II. Assumptions underlying calculations............................................................... 131 Annex III. Topic 1 cost calculations .............................................................................. 135 Annex IV. ICAO Specifications for MRPs and other size 3 MRTDs ...................................... 141 Annex V. Terminology ................................................................................................ 143 5 Feasibility and implications of lowering the fingerprinting age for children and on storing a scanned copy of the visa applicants’ travel document in the Visa Information System (VIS) PREFACE This report presents the assessment on the feasibility and implications of two possible measures related to the VIS: lowering the fingerprinting age for children and on storing a scanned copy of the visa applicants' travel document in the Visa Information System (VIS) in support of an impact assessment. The impacts of the proposed measures are assessed from the perspective of economic costs and benefits realised by affected stakeholders; policy (or operational) impacts related to the achievement of the defined policy objectives in the area of security, migration and the implementation of returns; and fundamental rights impacts. Impacts are quantified and monetised where feasible, notwithstanding considerable data limitations. In those cases where quantification is not possible, the direction of impact has been estimated as much as possible, supported and evidenced through rigorous analysis of qualitative data and information sources. Throughout the course of this study, the consortium consulted a wide range of more than 100 key stakeholders across the EU and in third countries. We would like to thank them for their valuable insights in the matter. It should be noted that the findings in this report represent the analysis and assessment by the team of consultants and does not represent in any form a position of the European Commission. Rotterdam, March 2018 7 Feasibility and implications of lowering the fingerprinting age for children and on storing a scanned copy of the visa applicants’ travel document in the Visa Information System (VIS) GLOSSARY AFIS Automated Fingerprint Identification System CS-VIS Central System Visa Information System EDPS European Data Protection Supervisor EES Entry-Exit System EMLO European Migration Liaison Officer EMN European Migration Network ESP External Service Provider ETIAS European Travel Information Authorisation System ETD Emergency travel document EU European Union EURLO European Return Liaison Officer EURODAC European Dactyloscopy EUROPOL European Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation eu-LISA European Agency for the operational management of large-scale IT systems in the area of freedom, security and justice FRONTEX European Border and Coast Guard Agency ILO Immigration Liaison Officer INTERPOL International Criminal Police Organization JHA Justice and Home Affairs LEA Lar Enforcement Agency MFA Ministry for Foreign Affairs OCG Organised Crime Group NI-VIS National Interface Visa Information System SLTD Stolen or Lost Document Database (Interpol) SIS Schengen Information System sTESTA Secured Trans European Service for Telematics between Administrations TCN Third Country Nationals TH Travel document Holder TD Travel document THB Trafficking in human beings VIS Visa Information System 9 Feasibility and implications of lowering the fingerprinting age for children and on storing a scanned copy of the visa applicants’ travel document in the Visa Information System (VIS) 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. Context There are two channels through which non-EU and non-Schengen citizens can access the EU: legal channels, which refers to movements and travel through recognised and authorised channels, including short-stay visas; and irregular channels, which includes the entry to, or stay in the territory using irregular or illegal means, such as without valid documents or carrying false documents. This applies to all Third Country Nationals (TCN), including children. The Visa Information System (henceforth the VIS) was created following a 2004 Council Decision1 for the purpose of processing short-stay visa applications by TCNs wishing to enter the Schengen Area for transit through