Estonian minister: E-border will reduce illegal immigration into Europe

Photo: SCANPIX

Creation of an e-border will reduce illegal immigration into Europe, Estonia's Interior Minister Ken-Marti Vaher says.

Vaher took part in the meeting of the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council in Brussels on Thursday that centered on the second generation Schengen information system (SIS II) and the "smart border package" tabled by the European Commission at the end of February.

"The Schengen information system going into operation is a step forward in improving internal security but work has to continue also towards the launch of additional information systems," Vaher observed.

In his words, Estonia supports the measures set down in the smart border package for three reasons. "First, the planned changes will speed up border crossings and help considerably improve border checks," he said. It is proposed to replace stamping of passports with an electronic traveler register and start using automated gates at major checkpoints.

A second reason is the new system's support in identifying and expelling illegal immigrants, the minister said. "Travelers' fingerprints, document data and entry and exit records will be stored in databases. On the basis of fingerprints taken at the border it is possible to identify illegals in a later phase and organize their deportation," he explained.

Thirdly, the new information systems could play an important role in preventing cross-border crime. "Although the European Commission proposal does not foresee giving customs and police agencies access to border crossers' data in the first phase, the position of Estonia and most member states is that granting them access is critical for preventing cross-border crime," Vaher said.

He said the experience of Estonia and other member states shows that border crossing data are vital for various investigations, especially those concerning drug trafficking and smuggling in general.

The smart border package of the European Commission consists of a pan-European entry/exit system and a registered traveler program. The aim of the new IT solutions is to speed up border crossing, collect in one place information on all border crossers and provide support to police and border guard in carrying out checks and identifying offenders.

The development and management of the systems is the responsibility of the EU IT agency headquartered in Tallinn.