This study examines current and forthcoming measures related to the exchange of data and information in EU Justice and Home Affairs policies, with a focus on the ‘smart borders’ initiative. It argues that there is no reversibility in the growing reliance on such schemes and asks whether current and forthcoming proposals are necessary and original. It outlines the main challenges raised by the proposals, including issues related to the right to data protection, but also to privacy and non-discrimination
This study was originally commissioned by European Parliament’s Directorate General for Internal Policies, Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs (DG IPOL) and is republished on the CEPS website with the kind permission of the European Parliament. The research was jointly coordinated by the Centre d’Etudes sur les Conflits (C&C) and the Justice and Home Affairs section of the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS). Prof. Didier Bigo is with the Centre d’études sur les conflits (C&C), Dr Sergio Carrera is Senior Research Fellow at CEPS, Dr Ben Hayes is Project Director at Statewatch), Nicholas Hernanz is at CEPS and Dr Julien Jeandesboz is with C&C.