Brussels asks for a digital version of DNI and passport for “more fluid and secure” trips between Schengen countries

BRUSSELS Oct. 8 () –

The European Commission has requested this Tuesday that citizens residing in the European Union can have a digitalized version of their identity documents and passport that are recognized when they move through the Schengen borderless area, with the aim of promoting “more fluid” movements. and safe” by reducing bureaucracy and facilitating controls.

To this end, Brussels proposes the need to create a common framework for the use of electronic travel credentials and the development of an ‘application’ called ‘EU Digital Travel’ in which the user can create and store these digitized travel documents. for example, on your mobile phone.

The community proposal makes it clear that it would be a voluntary and free system that offers a “digital copy” of the data already stored in the chip of the identity documents or passport, for example the photograph of the holder, but not biometric data such as the fingerprint .

According to data from the Community Executive, last year nearly 600 million border crossings were registered within the Schengen area, in a context in which documentation checks must be carried out physically at border points. For this reason, community services insist, having digitalized versions of these documents would greatly speed up both the passage of citizens and the control of the data of these travelers.

Regarding the development of the ‘application’, Brussels anticipates that it will allow the authenticity and integrity of the travel document to be verified and the facial image of the user to be compared with the photograph stored in the chip of the official document.

In addition, the holder may receive a digitized copy when receiving a new passport or identity card and may transmit the data to the competent border authorities in advance to facilitate controls and receive entry authorization before arrival.

In any case, before this proposal can become a reality, it is necessary for the Twenty-Seven and the European Parliament to negotiate the definitive form of the norm and subsequently adopt its final version.