Help us make the FRA website better for you!
Take part in a one-to-one session and help us improve the FRA website. It will take about 30 minutes of your time.
Given that the EES will process personal data, including sensitive biometric data, of hundreds of millions of third-country nationals each year, FRA carried out research and contributed with fundamental rights expertise to training activities.
FRA’s research aimed at collecting the experiences and expectations of practitioners and experts on matters which are relevant for the EES roll out. The research covered the collection and processing of biometric data at borders – for example through automated border control (ABC) gates, the provision of information to third-country nationals or the management of queues in settings with limited space.
Between May and September 2024, FRA collected experiences from border guards, national authorities, supervisory authorities and fundamental rights experts across six EU Member States and at nine air, sea and land border crossing points (BCPs) with relevant experience in processing biometric data at borders. More specifically, the research:
- Interviewed 30 national-level authorities and experts, five in each of the following Member States: Bulgaria, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy and Poland.
- At nine BCPs, interviewed 61 shift leaders and 25 other stakeholders such as airport companies, carriers and NGOs. At these BCPs, the border guards offered a guided tour to the researchers, which enabled some participatory observation.
- At nine BCPs, carried out a survey, covering in total 177 border guards.
- FRA staff themselves visited five BCPs (Frankfurt and Vienna airport; Eurostar train to France; Marseille and Bari ports) – observing and discussing the preparations for the EES with respective Member State authorities.
The research took place at the following BCPs:
- Bulgaria: Kapitan Andreevo (road BCP) and Sofia airport,
- Poland: Medyka (road BCP) and Warsaw airport,
- Estonia: Narva (land BCP),
- Italy: Fiumicino airport and Bari port and
- France: Marseille port and the Eurostar BCP.
The research findings were the starting point to compile this FRA guidance.
The results of the research at border crossing points are available in the report by the contractor who implemented the research activities for FRA. (hyperlink to contractor’s report)