Executive Summary
The European Union’s Schengen biometric-based border-management systems pose a minimal
identity threat to US operational travelers because their primary focus is illegal immigration and
criminal activities, not counterintelligence, and US travelers typically do not fit the target profiles.
US-documented operational travelers are not required to provide biometric data when crossing
the Schengen area’s external borders. (S//NF)
The European Union’s creation of the Schengen area led to increased freedom of movement within the
internal borders of its member states. Concurrently, the European Union has strengthened its external
border security to prevent illegal immigrants and criminals from entering the Schengen area, where they
would have freedom to travel unchecked from state to state. With the EU's assistance, Schengen
member states have strengthened their external borders with specialized training; high-tech surveillance,
inspection, and communications equipment; and vehicles and aircraft. The member states use computerbased
watchlist systems at the external borders that are connected to common databases. The
European Union has developed a number of database systems to promote information sharing while at
the same time balancing privacy and security concerns. The European Union has an ongoing process to
incorporate biometrics into these various systems to augment its law enforcement measures and to
enhance immigration control by improving the identification and verification of travelers entering the
Schengen area. (U)
