"Common Visa Application Centres" and introduction of biometrics in Visa Information System (VIS)

Vice-President Franco Frattini, Commissioner responsible for freedom, security and justice, declared: "security will be enhanced via the introduction of biometric identifiers in the Visa Information System whilst fully respecting requirements of data protection. �Common Application Centres" will have the advantage of reinforcing and streamlining local consular cooperation between Member States as resources can be pooled and shared".

The objective of the proposal is to adapt the Common Consular Instructions (CCI) to the use of biometrics in the area of visa policy. The obligation to enrol biometric identifiers from visa applicants is the logical consequence of using biometrics in order to enhance security. This proposal creates the legal obligation to collect fingerprints from visa applicants.

In order to avoid all Member States having to install the necessary equipment for enrolling biometric identifiers in every consular office, the idea of creating "Common application Centres" was born. This is the reason for dealing, in the second part of the proposal, with the organisation of Member States' consular services.

In addition to the existing form of representation, there are new forms of organisation of consular offices suggested: co-location, common application centres and outsourcing.

• Co-location means that consular staff of two or more Member States are sharing the equipment of a host Member State in its consular post;
• Common application centres means that consular staff of two or more Member States are pooled in one "neutral" building in order to receive visa applications;
• Outsourcing means collaboration with external service providers for the possibility either to function as a "call-centre" for giving appointments or for the reception of visa applications including biometric identifiers.

In all cases, the treatment and the decision on the application is taken by the Member State responsible. Especially outsourcing raises very important questions of data protection and these issues will be discussed in-depth with the European Parliament and Member States as this is an entirely new development in the common visa policy.

This proposal could be a first step to the further enhancement of the harmonisation of the application of the CCI and in view of future Common Visa Offices.