ETIAS to Complement Existing Information

According to the European Commission, ETIAS will integrate with and complement existing security databases, such as the as Schengen Information System (SIS), as well as those still in development like the Entry Exit System (EES). The EES will allow authorities to get a closer look at cross-border movement and travel history data.

ETIAS, the European Travel and Information System set to roll out in January 2021, will help keep Europe's Schengen Area a visa-free zone while tightening security, border control and filling information gaps. According to the European Commission, border authorities and law enforcement have little to no information on those who travel visa-free - a luxury tourists have enjoyed when visiting the Schengen countries. Beginning January 2021, eligible visitors can still travel visa-free, but only with an approved ETIAS waiver.

ETIAS will be integrated and interoperable with other EU authorization systems and will automatically cross-check each application against:

• The Schengen Information System (SIS) Europe's most often used security database, in place since 2013. SIS contains more than 80 million records
• The Visa Information System (VIS) This system allows Schengen Area countries to share visa data, and its capabilities include biometric matching of personal identifiers like fingerprints
• Europol Data Europol is the official intelligence agency of the European Union