EU launches fingerprint database for Schengen visa applicationOctober 12, 2011 - 17:06 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The European Union (EU) on Tuesday Oct 11 has launched a new database for Schengen visa application, that includes collecting fingerprints and digital facial images, in a bid to speed up visa process as well as prevent fraud. The so-called Visa Information system (VIS) started from North Africa on Tuesday, the first operational region to be followed by the Near East and the Gulf regions. It is planned to cover all of the 2,500 Schengen consulates worldwide within two years. "This is a big step towards improving and modernizing the common EU visa policy," the EU's home affairs commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said. The new system has been designed to facilitate the process of visa issuing in a more efficient and secure way, according to the commissioner, so that foreigners would benefit from clearer visa application rules. Currently, about 13 million visas are issued every year by the 25 Schengen countries, and the authorities find it hard to prevent cases of visa frauds and abuses. The new database, however, will be shared by all Schengen countries, so that authorities may prevent identity theft and check, for the first time, if a person is simultaneously applying for visa from two or more states or has been denied entry by a certain state. Earlier this year, an influx of North African immigrants to some European countries triggered dissidence among many EU member states as well as huge debate towards Schengen reform. The Schengen regime, often referred to as "free movement of the persons", grants passport-free travel within 25 European countries, which benefits over 400 million Europeans as well as millions of international travelers. Along with its noticeable expansion over the past decade, Schengen is also increasingly challenged by cross-border crimes and illegal immigration, especially amid the current debt crisis and economic difficulties across Europe, Bernama reported. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. Ruling MPs, Foreign Minister talk Armenia-Azerbaijan processes MOs from the ruling Civil Contract party met with the Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in the Armenian parliament. Russia: Armenia’s frozen membership weakens CSTO position in Caucasus A Russian envoy said any step that could alienate the CSTO member states from each other is “deeply wrong”. |