Finland Actively Contributing to Interoperability Development in Visa Policies
The Finnish authorities have announced their active participation in the development of interoperability within border and visa policies as part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs UMPIO project.
The UMPIO project, which stands for interoperability, is focused on coordinating information and data related to internal security, border security, and migration management within the European Union information systems for security.
The main goal of the project is to develop a “detector” for the Visa Information System to check identity, travel documents, and biometric data. This will enable the identification of individuals registered in multiple EU information systems and detect multiple identities associated with the same set of biometric data, ultimately leading to a more secure system for processing visa applications.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland emphasizes that the UMPIO project is part of a broader collaboration between EU member states, the Schengen Community, and important EU agencies like Europol, Frontex, eu-LISA, and the EU Agency for large-scale IT systems. The goal is to establish interoperability that will strengthen and accelerate border and visa policies across the bloc.
Financial support of over €1,800,000 has been secured for the UMPIO project, which will be utilized between February 1, 2022, and January 31, 2025. This funding will ensure the successful development and implementation of the project.
By taking on this initiative, Finland is demonstrating its commitment to enhancing the efficacy of the region’s border and visa systems. This effort not only benefits Finland but also contributes to the security of the entire EU. It is a crucial step in addressing the current challenges the EU faces in security and migration.
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