In the early days of 2021, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will become operational. All online applications for ETIAS approval will be processed by the ETIAS Central Unit computers, where the personal details of the applicant will be accessible to Europol, the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation. 

The Central Unit will also hold data from key European law enforcement agencies regarding perceived risks of criminal or terrorist activities across the European Union. Frontex, the European Border, and Coast Guard Agency will be in charge of comparing this information with the completed forms of the applicants.

The latest ETIAS database will hold all the required information about applicants in order to automatically decide whether to refuse or grant ETIAS approval. However, some applications, applicants, or situations may require additional information. In these cases, an ETIAS Watchlist will be created to keep track of applicants or applications that raise suspicion or doubt. The watchlist will provide more detailed information to help with the decision-making process.

The watchlist will be regularly updated and shared with other relevant authorities, such as border control and law enforcement agencies, to help identify and prevent potential security threats. It will also be used to monitor the movements and activities of individuals on the watchlist and to quickly alert authorities if they pose a potential risk or danger. Additionally, the watchlist will include information on the reasons why an individual was added to the list, such as previous criminal activity or suspected links to terrorist organizations. 

This will help authorities make more informed decisions when dealing with individuals on the watchlist.

What Watchlists Are Used For

The main reason the Watchlist is designed is to safeguard Europe against terrorist attacks, criminal activity, and health risks. Many individuals and groups around the world are of interest to law enforcement agencies, such as those suspected or known to be involved in terrorism or criminal enterprises.

To avoid detection by law enforcement, these individuals and groups may use false identity papers, aliases, dummy addresses, and questionable documentation. This information is collected and organized into files over time as these individuals or organizations are monitored.

Previously, valuable information about these individuals and groups was only available to local law enforcement agencies. However, the creation of the ETIAS Central Unit’s application database and accompanying Watchlist will make this information more widely accessible.

This will allow law enforcement agencies across Europe to share and access information about these individuals and groups, making it easier to track their movements and activities. The Watchlist will be a valuable tool in the fight against terrorism, organized crime, and other threats to public safety. The establishment of the ETIAS Central Unit’s database and accompanying Watchlist is an important step in strengthening Europe’s defenses against these dangers.

The ETIAS Watchlist Management System

The ETIAS Watchlist will be compiled and maintained by Europol, with some input from the ETIAS Screening Board, using information from the ETIAS Central Unit’s stored application forms and various European security databases. 

By adding information from ETIAS applications that raise red flags, Europol will be able to monitor the movements and activities of individuals and groups of interest. This will help law enforcement agencies across Europe to identify and track potential threats and take action to prevent attacks and other dangerous situations.

The ability to monitor the movements and activities of individuals and groups of interest is a key benefit of the ETIAS Watchlist. By tracking these individuals, Europol and law enforcement agencies across Europe can identify potential threats and take action to prevent attacks and other dangerous situations. This can help to keep European citizens safe from terrorism, organized crime, and other dangers. 

In addition, the Watchlist can also provide valuable information for investigations and prosecutions of individuals and groups involved in these activities. By monitoring these individuals and groups, Europol and law enforcement agencies can gather evidence and build stronger cases against them, helping to keep Europe safe and secure.

Red Flags: Things to Be Aware of

Anything that may be labeled as suspicious data and that may have connections to terrorism or criminal activity will be included on the Watchlist and noted in the ETIAS Central Unit’s database. The ETIAS Watchlist’s information will consist of the following:

• Any given names, surnames, and aliases linked to terrorism or crime
• The person’s date of birth
• The person’s nationality
• The person’s passport or travel document information
• The person’s place of birth
• Their gender
• Addresses: such as business, home and other addresses 
• The person’s email addresses
• The person’s phone numbers
• The person’s visits to conflict areas or active war zones

The Watchlist will include the names of individuals with criminal or terrorist offenses on their records, as well as those who are suspected of such offenses or involvement in these activities. Other reasons that individuals may also be included on the Watchlist is due to medical conditions that pose a health risk to Europe, such as infectious or contagious diseases.

Including individuals on the Watchlist due to medical conditions that pose a health risk to Europe is important for several reasons. Such as, it can help to prevent the spread of infectious or contagious diseases by alerting authorities to individuals who may be carrying these conditions and requiring them to undergo appropriate screening or treatment. 

This can protect the health and safety of European citizens and prevent the outbreak of disease. By including individuals on the Watchlist due to medical conditions that pose a health risk, Europol and the ETIAS Screening Board can help to safeguard the well-being and security of Europe.

The Implementation Process

As long as they complete the ETIAS application form honestly and accurately, ordinary citizens seeking ETIAS approval for travel to and within Europe do not need to worry about the Watchlist. The only potential issue is if they provide false, misleading, or inaccurate information that raises a red flag on the Watchlist.

If an applicant’s application raises a red flag on the Watchlist, it may be processed manually. This may require further background checks by the ETIAS National Unit of the country from which the application is being made. Once Europol and the relevant law enforcement agencies are satisfied, ETIAS approval will be granted and the Watchlist will be updated with any new information.

This will ensure that the Watchlist remains accurate and up to date and that individuals are not unnecessarily denied ETIAS approval or subjected to additional background checks. By removing false positives from the Watchlist, Europol and the ETIAS Screening Board can focus their resources on identifying and monitoring individuals and groups with genuine connections to terrorism or criminal activity. This will help to keep Europe safe from these threats.

ETIAS non-participating countries will not have access to the Watchlist and will need to implement their own travel security measures because they are not participating in the ETIAS program. This means that they will not be able to share information or resources with the other participating countries through the ETIAS Central Unit’s database and Watchlist. As a result, these non-participating countries may have to rely on their own national security systems to identify and monitor individuals and groups with terrorist or criminal connections.