The European Commission has announced that the proposed new travel system for Europe has been delayed again until at least 2025. The new system, referred to as the European Travel Information System (ETIAS), is intended to improve journey security and facilitate safer and more secure international travel for both European citizens and non-European nationals.
The ETIAS system was first suggested in November 2016 and was initially expected to be implemented by 2018 but the officials have now said that they can’t guarantee a launch before 2025. The delay has been caused mainly due to the extensive technical work that needs to be done for the system to become fully operational.
The ETIAS system is proposed to be a compulsory online system which requires travelers from non-European countries to apply for authorization before being able to travel throughout the Schengen area, a region encompassing 26 countries. Individuals from visa-exempt countries will need to provide certain information such as passport details, contact info, travel itinerary, and health insurance prior to obtaining an ETIAS visa waiver.
The system will use big data in order to identify potential risks among travelers and, once approved, the authorizations will be valid for three consecutive years. ETIAS is also designed to bolster anti-terror efforts in Europe, particularly at the external borders of the Schengen zone.
The travel authorization system is projected to cost between 90 and 95 million euros a year, with additional implementation costs of 88 million euros. On the other hand, the European Commission has estimated that the benefits of ETIAS could be as much as 9 billion euros.
The European Commission has stated that they are disappointed with the delay of the system but that they remain committed to the project and will start the preparations for the system as soon as possible. It is also hoped that the new system will help to lift the burden off national border guards by providing a powerful tool to screen travelers before they enter the Schengen area.
The proposed ETIAS system has been met with both enthusiasm and criticism from different countries in the region but the European Commission is hopeful that the system will be operational by 2025 and that it will help to increase security and make international travel for both European citizens and non-European nationals much smoother and easier.