On the proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing an application for the electronic submission of travel… data (“EU Digital Travel application”) and amending Regulations (EU) 2016/399 and (EU) 2018/1726 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Regulation (EC) No 2252/2004, as regards the use of digital travel credentials

Whereas the EU's external borders are under increasing pressure due to rising traveller volumes, which have returned to pre-pandemic levels. While systematic checks have strengthened security, they have also resulted in longer waiting times at border-crossing points. Current procedures rely heavily on physical document verification, which is time-consuming, resource-intensive, and susceptible to inefficiencies.

By enabling the use of digital travel credentials, this Regulation addresses several key challenges:

1.security and fraud prevention while enhancing document verification through digital means reduces the risk of identity fraud and cross-border crime;

2.efficiency in border management by allowing authorities to conduct pre-checks before a traveller arrives at the border optimizes resource allocation and reduces congestion;

3.seamless passenger experience - travellers can submit digital credentials in advance, leading to faster and more convenient border crossings;

4.harmonization and interoperability by establishing a uniform EU-wide standard ensures consistency across Member States, preventing fragmentation and ensuring compatibility with international standards.

The Rapporteur welcomes this proposed Regulation on establishing the EU Digital Travel Application aiming to introduce a standardized, interoperable, and secure standard for digital travel credentials (DTCs) within the European Union. He also shares the view that digitalisation and automation can be a useful tool to mitigate errors and to allow for a better travel experience for legitimate travellers.

The Rapporteur strongly supports the adoption of this Regulation, however, this Regulation should avoid going to the detriment of the travel experience of the legitimate traveller. It should also allow authorities to estimate in advance the necessary control capacity at airports and should enable carriers transporting passengers in and out of the EU territory and Schengen area to process the information at the check-in in a more efficient and faster way. The Rapporteur believes that this legislation should facilitate people travelling, with reduced times at the physical border checks, the efficient use of border control technologies, principles and processes to move toward a more open yet secure regime to boost travel, trade and tourism and thereby national economies. The transport and tourism sectors stand to benefit significantly from a modernized, digitalized approach to border management. Facilitating smoother travel processes will enhance the EU’s attractiveness as a travel destination and improve operational efficiency for both authorities and carriers.

Additionally, this Regulation will facilitate the activities of the air carriers in the context of the implementation of the API future framework, allowing them to automatically collect the travel data for the API purposes, and ultimately resulting in accurate and reliable data. Key considerations that should be prioritized during legislative discussions include:

1.Balancing security with privacy: While digital pre-checks improve security, it is essential to maintain strong data protection measures and ensure that travellers retain full control over their digital identities;

2.Carriers, especially air transport and other travel stakeholders must be closely involved in the implementation phase to ensure smooth integration with existing and upcoming systems/obligations and minimize disruptions;

3.Providing clear guidelines for Member States: A harmonized framework must prevent inconsistencies in implementation, ensuring equal treatment of all travellers across EU borders;

The Rapporteur believes that the financial appropriation to the functioning of the router will determine its success, therefore eu-LISA should be provided with the necessary resources under the Union budget.

In conclusion, the Rapporteur understand that this Regulation represents a crucial step towards the digitalization of travel processes, offering substantial benefits for security, efficiency, and passenger experience. By supporting its adoption and ensuring effective implementation, the EU can strengthen its border management capabilities while facilitating safe and convenient travel for millions of passengers annually.