site.btaEU Border System Flagged 300 Passengers as Security Threats in Past Three Months

Since the introduction of the new entry-exit system for crossing the EU’s external borders three months ago, around 300 cases of passengers posing security threats have already been detected, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Magnus Brunner reported Thursday after a meeting of the European interior ministers in Brussels.

He noted that such individuals are not allowed into the EU. According to him, the EU today is much better prepared for an influx of migrants than it was 10 years ago. The EU has recently further strengthened measures to secure the external borders, and automated checks make it easier to detect irregularities, the Commissioner explained.

He also reported a more than 50% decrease in cases of illegal crossings of European borders over the past two years.

The situation in the Middle East poses challenges for the EU in terms of security and migration, the commissioner added. So far, there has been no flow of people leaving Iran to other countries in the region, but the EU authorities continue to monitor the situation, he said.

Regarding terrorist threats following recent strikes in Iran, Brunner noted that European security services are watching out for possible threats, including on internet and online platforms. In cases of terrorist threats, platforms must cooperate with us, the Commissioner stated.