The ETIAS will gather information on all those travelling visa-free to the European Union to allow for advance irregular migration and security checks. This will contribute to a more efficient management of the EU's external borders and improve internal security, whilst at the same time facilitating legal travel across Schengen borders.

First Vice-President Frans Timmermans said: "Securing our borders and protecting our citizens is our first priority. ETIAS will close an information gap by cross-checking visa exempt applicants' information against all our other systems. At the same time, the future ETIAS will be easy, quick, cheap and effective."

Identity, Biometrics and Advanced Passenger Information (API) at the Border will be some of the key subjects addressed at next year’s World Border Security Congress to be held in Morocco 21-23 March 2017.  The two open discussions in the programmes will include Identity and Biometrics at the Border – Compliance, Application and Implementation and the second topic is, Standardization of Systems and Making Passenger Information (API) Work.

Ease of travel for bona fide travellers has not become less burdensome, and the first programme will discuss how it has become more complicated despite new technologies such as biometrics and e-visas. How can biometrics can be implemented in compliance within legal, privacy and data protection requirements. And be more effectively applied and integrated with trusted traveller programmes and other data sources to ensure the integrity of the traveller to speed up the travel process?  The second will discuss the many trusted traveller programmes available and how only a few of them currently integrate and communicate to create a more global benefit of passenger clearance and information sharing. Standardisation of systems has not occurred despite lots of talk at ICAO, IATA. Is it possible for standardisation to occur and how can API and PNR sharing be made to work more effectively?

Confirmed speakers discussing these topics include: Josef Iroko, General Legal Counsel Board Secretary , Ghana National Identification Authority, Ghana, Don Enrique Belda Esplugues, Deputy Director General of Communications and Information Systems for Security, Ministry of Interior, Spain, Ben Ball, Government Market Director, Crossmatch, Mam Sait Jallow, Regional Director, ICAO, WACAF Office and Andrew Priestley, Border Management Solutions Manager, Rockwell Collins.

The World Border Security Congress is a high level 3 day event that will discuss and debate current and future policies, implementation issues and challenges as well as new and developing technologies that contribute towards safe and secure border and migration management.

Supported by the Ministry of Interior of Morocco, Organization for Security & Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), European Association for Airport and Seaport Police (EAASP), International Security Industry Organisation, National Security & Resilience Consortium and International Association of CIP Professionals, the World Border Security Congress is a premier multi-jurisdictional transnational platform where the border protection, management and security industry policy-makers and practitioners convene annually to discuss the international challenges faced in protecting borders.