Regula Continues to Grow

A spokesperson for the association said: ‘The EES system will be a game-changer for EU border management.

‘There are, however, a number of issues that need to be resolved to ensure a smooth deployment and operation of the new system so that air passengers do not face disruption.

‘Postponing implementation past the busy summer 2023 period will give airlines, airports, EU and national authorities the opportunity to address these issues and ensure the system is fully tested.’

What is the EES?

The new EES delay – which was predicted in the November 2022 edition of IDN – will require travellers from outside the bloc to record their photos and scan their fingerprints. The system was due to be introduced in May but has now been pushed back until at least the end of the year.

The news will be welcomed by British holidaymakers, in particular, who are booking overseas trips in record numbers after nearly three years of COVID-hit travel. It also comes as Brexit talks between the UK and EU over the Northern Ireland Protocol have shown signs of improvement in recent weeks, with hopes of a deal by the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement in April.

Problems to solve

Reacting to the EES delay, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said there were issues with the programme that needed to be addressed to ensure holidays were not adversely affected.

The EES will be an automated registration system for non-EU travellers who don’t require a visa to enter the EU. Travellers will need to scan their passports or other travel document at a self-service kiosk each time they cross an EU external border. It will not apply to legal residents or those with long stay visas.

The system will register the traveller’s name, biometric data, and the date and place of entry and exit. Facial scans and fingerprint data will be retained for three years after each trip.

It will apply when entering all EU member states, apart from Cyprus and Ireland, as well as four non-EU countries in the Schengen Area – Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

The EES is being introduced to bolster border security and identify travellers who overstay their permitted time in the Schengen Area (90 days within a 180 day period).

Continued on page 2 >

Document and biometric verification company, Regula, has recently helped Ecuador to update its national forensic capabilities and has had its devices recognised in two Gartner reports.

Ecuador modernises

After using Regula equipment for over a decade, the National Service of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences of Ecuador, which is a subsidiary of the national police, felt it was time to upgrade its capabilities and invest in modern technology. The organisation wanted to cover all the major issues of document analysis with a single device, which was powerful enough to perform an investigation of any document feature, including inks and print. On top of this, the public entity wanted a new technology partner and to receive comprehensive vendor support.

‘Upon equipping our forensic laboratories with Regula’s devices and databases, we finally managed to reach the required high level of technology to perform any kind of document investigation – quickly, conveniently, and efficiently. Not only did Regula provide its products, but the company also organised training for our experts to help them use the device to the fullest and get insights on security features of different documents,’ said Cristian Ernesto Salgado Ortega, Technical Coordinator.

Continued on page 2 >