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Frontex Testing “Biometrics on the Move” Border Check Technology at Lisbon Airport

The European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) is testing these days a new border check technology at the Lisbon Airport Authority (ANA), in cooperation with the Border Service of Portugal (SEF).

The new technology, known as the “Biometrics on the Move” is the future of the European Union border controls, a press release by Frontex claims, explaining what this technology is all about.

“If you’re passing through the Lisbon airport this month, you could experience the future of border control as you leave the European Union. Instead of standing in queue to show your passport to border guard, travelers are able to cross the border almost seamlessly thanks to face recognition and touchless scanning of fingerprints,” the press release reads.

According to Frontex, “Biometrics on the Move” will make it easier for travelers to quickly pass through border checks without having to even take out their passports or any other documents. The technology has been developed in a bid to make border-crossing not only easier for travelers but also more secure at the same time.

“This technology will give border guards more time to conduct systematic and efficient security checks without affecting regular travellers, increasing security at the borders,” Frontex further explains through this press release.

The testing at the Lisbon Airport Authority will cover EU citizens leaving the Schengen Area in an effort to find out whether biometric solutions can decrease the waiting time at the borders.

The “Biometrics on the Move” is yet another attempt of the European Union security bodies to improve security at the borders.

Previously in July this year, the FRONTEX and the Hellenic Coast Guard had tested a Tethered Aerostat, to demonstrate the capabilities of the ground-controlled balloons for coastal surveillance. The 35-meter long balloon monitored the maritime field in real-time, on a 24-hour basis for 28 days in a row uninterruptedly.

On the other hand, only at the beginning of last month, the European Union Council supported a budget for 2020 that among other foresees the allocation of €101.4 million to Frontex, or +32.4% compared to 2019, to set up a standing corps of 10,000 border guards by 2027.

The new standing corps is meant to support the EU Member States on the grounds of border control and return tasks, as well as in the fight against cross-border crimes. According to Frontex plans to have a 5,000 operational staff of standing corps by 2021, and a fully operational standing corps of 10,000 by 2027.

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