S&D MEPs today called on the European Commission to reassess elements of the Smart Borders Package to take into account concerns over data protection and the cost of implementing an entirely new system.
Speaking at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, S&D vice-president Tanja Fajon said:
"We have real concerns about what has come out of the Commission so far on the Smart Borders Package. Currently there is too much focus on security issues, which do not seem proportionate to the actual level of risk that exists. We are particularly concerned about the ability of law enforcement agencies to access the proposed new system, which seems central to these proposals. This raises serious questions about how passengers' data will be used and stored and how this will affect travellers' fundamental rights."
"We also remain sceptical about the need for developing a whole new expensive system. The aims of better border management and facilitated border crossings could be achieved by simply updating and enhancing existing systems, such as the Visa Information System (VIS) or the Schengen Information System (SIS II). What we do not want is this to create a new system that is both more costly and creates unnecessary burden for travellers - that would be anything but smart."
