eu-LISA Annual Conference 2014: Smart Borders

The first eu-LISA Conference took place on 1 October 2014, in Tallinn, and focused on the hot topic of Smart Borders.

The systems that are part of the Smart Borders project would provide a toolbox for national authorities in Europe to increase border security while facilitating quicker transit for pre-vetted travellers.

Stakeholders, practitioners and experts from 25 European countries gathered at the conference to discuss practical aspects of the implementation of the proposed new systems at both national and European levels.

Event Report

• 09:00 - 09:30
  Welcome coffee and registration
• 09:30 - 11:00
  Session 1 – Keynote presentations
  Smart Borders – Efficiency, Security and Innovation
  • Opening statements
    • Krum Garkov, Executive Director, eu-LISA
    • Hanno Pevkur, Estonian Minister of the Interior
  • Marc Sulon, Coordinator for Smart Borders, Head of Sector 'Biometrics, Systems and relations with eu-LISA', Directorate-General for Home Affairs, European Commission
  • Pasi Nokelainen, System Manager for Border Checks, Finnish Ministry of the Interior
• 11:00 - 11:30
  Coffee break
• 11:30 - 13:00
  Session 2
  How would Smart Borders Complete the Border Guard’s Toolkit While Satisfying Traveller Expectations?
  • Chair: Ciarán Carolan, Research and Development Officer, eu-LISA
  • Panellists:
    • Edgar Beugels, Head of Research and Development Unit, Capacity Building Division, Frontex
    • Marie-Caroline Laurent, Assistant Director Security and Travel Facilitation Europe, IATA
    • Helen Neider-Veerme, Head of Bureau, Estonian Border Guard
• 13:00 - 14:30
  Lunch break
• 14:30 - 16:00
  Session 3
  Behind Smart Borders: Challenges in Delivering Efficiency, Security and Performance through Technical Innovation
  • Chair: Stephan Brandes, Head of Operations and Infrastructure Unit, eu-LISA
  • Panellists:
    • Fares Rahmun, Project Management and Software Development, Federal Office of Administration (BVA), Germany
    • Günter Schumacher, Digital Citizen Security Unit, Institute for the Protection and Security of the Citizen, Joint Research Centre, European Commission
    • André van der Meij, Deputy Chairperson of the SIS II Advisory Group, Programme Manager at the ICT Service of the Dutch National Police
• 16:00 - 16:15
  Coffee break
• 16:15 - 16:30
  Wrap-up
  • Conclusions of the sessions by the moderators
  • Closing remarks and conference summary by Krum Garkov, Executive Director, eu-LISA