On March 7th the European Council adopted an amendment for all EU States. The amendment obliges member states to carry out systematic checks against relevant databases on all persons, including those enjoying the right of free movement under EU law (i.e. EU citizens and members of their families who are not EU citizens) when they cross the external borders. The databases against which checks will be carried out include the Schengen Information System (SIS) and Interpol’s database on stolen and lost travel documents (SLTD). The checks will also enable member states to verify that those persons do not represent a threat to public policy, internal security or public health. This obligation shall apply at all external borders (air, sea and land borders), both at entry and exit.
In a region where swift border transit has become part of life this new amendment will undoubtedly pose some problems for business travellers.
While the general intention of the amendment is to increase security this is a further example of the sharing of information across regulatory authorities and it highlights further how important it will become to understand where your business travellers are – and what documentation they possess to cross these borders.
The need to revamp business traveller programmes has never been a higher priority than it is now.
Click here to view full press release from the EU.
Global Tracker is an innovative & proactive tracking software for the business traveller. For more information or a demo of our tracker software, please contact Liam Brennan.
Liam Brennan is the CEO of GT Global Tracker – an award winning software product for tracking business travellers.
