EUROPEAN UNION AGREES TO NEW SECURITY SYSTEM MODELED AFTER US ESTA
May 9, 2018
On April 25, 2018, the EU Council and EU Parliament agreed to terms for a ”European travel information and authorization system,”, or ETIAS, which the EU notes was an “important step” in protecting the EU’s external borders and will ensure member states have advance knowledge of travelers to the EU before they arrive.
Discussion around the ETIAS scheme has been ongoing since November 2016 following the adoption of the European Agenda on Security in April 2015, which was designed to combat terrorism and security threats facing the union. A “general approach” to the concept was agreed by the council in June 2017.
ETIAS authorization will cost a traveler €7 and will be valid for a period of three years. Travelers will be able to apply online ahead of travel, much like the US ESTA system and the charge will apply to “visa-exempt third country nationals.” Authorization, like the US ESTA system, does not provide automatic right of entry or stay, with any final decisions to be made at the border by border guards.
The regulation will now be submitted to the European Parliament for a vote at first reading, and then to the Council for adoption. If it is adopted, it is understood the EU would seek to implement the system as soon as possible, potentially by 2020.
If you have any questions, please contact Evelyn Sahr (esahr@eckertseamans.com, 202-659-6622) or Drew Derco (dderco@eckertseamans.com, 202-659-6665).
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