EU Reveals New Plan for Security Checks
The European Union has unveiled plans for a new system of security checks on travelers permitted to enter Europe without visas in an effort to crack down on extremists.
People from 60 visa waiver countries, including the U.S., will have to pay 5 euros and fill out an online form to obtain clearance to travel within Europe’s 26-nation ID check-free area.
The system will help to spot individuals who “may pose security threats, irregular migration or health risks” and stop them from coming into the country if they have intent to harm. EU’s security commissioner Julian King says it will “enhance Europe’s internal security.”
The system will cross-check travelers against visa, criminal and stolen document databases. The form should take less than 10 minutes to complete and will be valid for five years and multiple trips. While most people will get immediate approval, some requests could take up to 72 hours to come through.
Reports say that authorities are also working on plans for an entry and exit scheme that would check all travelers entering or leaving the passport-free area known as Schengen. The system is focused on catching so-called foreign terrorist fighters who train or wage war in Syria and Iraq.
The new plan comes just months after attacks in Paris and Brussels killed 162 people combined. The Commission hopes the new system will be up and running in 2020.