The
European Parliament has approved draft proposals
for a mammoth biometric database to prevent “visa
shopping”.
The database is expected to contain the details of 70 million
individuals and is designed to stop people applying for a visa to a
Schengen country if they have already been
refused by another Schengen state.
The
Visa Information System (VIS) database will
also be used to strengthen national borders, fight terrorism,
fraud and other serious crime.
The database will carry photographs, fingerprints and other
personal details, and will be managed by a permanent EU funded
authority. National police forces and
Europol
will have access, among other agencies involved in border
control.
There are currently 15 Schengen member states in Europe.
Although the UK is not one of them, it intends opting into the VIS
system.
UK public favours biometrics >>
Schengen visa >>
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