EU Launches Consultation on Digitalisation of Travel Documents but Majority of EU Citizens Don’t Support the Initiative

The Commission of the European Union has today officially launched a public consultation on the digitalisation of travel documents and facilitation of travel, requiring EU citizens to share their opinion on the matter.

According to the Commission, this initiative aims to establish a uniform standard for digital travel documents used in the Schengen Area so that the citizens of the EU get to travel under facilitated rules, AtoZSerwisPlus.pl reports.

“We want to contribute to smooth travel across EU borders. That’s why we are launching a public consultation on the digitalisation of travel documents and the facilitation of travel. The contributions will help establish a uniform standard in the Schengen area,” EU Commission wrote on its official Twitter account.

The same emphasised that digital travel documents – digital passports and identity cards – can support international travel and facilitate border checks and are faster to issue than those in physical format.

The consultation to gather views on how this initiative could contribute to the smooth travel and the overall security of the Union will be open until June 28, 2023, and all EU citizens can share their opinion online.

Majority of EU Citizens Don’t Support the Initiative

While the EU thinks that the digitalisation of travel documents is important and highly beneficial, the majority of those who have given feedback on the matter so far have said that they do not support the initiative.

Peter Vizard from France said that he is aware of the advantages that the digitalisation of travel documents could have but opposed making this an obligatory requirement. According to him, all EU citizens should have the right to choose whether they want digital or physical travel documents.

“I am a holder of a biometric passport. I understand the advantages from a technical point of view and the convenience to the holder. However, I am strongly and fundamentally opposed to the imposition of a general obligation for all citizens to possess one or to be prevented from travel if they don’t want to,” Peter wrote.

Another EU citizen who chose to remain anonymous also strongly opposed the idea of travel documents digitalisation. The citizen said that the risk of personal data being misused would increase in case the EU decides to digitalise travel documents and suggested that they would not feel safe with their data being shared into different systems.

“I do not agree and consider it an unprecedented interference in the privacy and protection of a person. The risk of misuse of such data is significant, and no one knows how to protect it 100 per cent. I consider it a violation of human rights and freedoms and an entry into dictatorship and totalitarian rule,” the EU citizen’s feedback reads.

The EU website already consists of hundreds of responses, and many said they do not want to live in a ‘matrix’, stressing that the current documents allow them to travel without any inconveniences.

I want to continue to be able to use analogue identification documents when I travel. I do not want or consent to being monitored through any kind of digital physiological recognition processes – be it facial recognition, iris recognition, fingerprints or anything else. I claim my right to be able to travel without being required to use or be exposed to any form of wireless technology to verify my identity!,” Sarah Rose from the United Kingdom added.

All EU citizens will be able to give their feedback on the initiative for another two months, and once the consultation is over, the Commission is expected to take a decision.