The workshop, which examined the progress of RTPs in Europe and looked at the technical developments taking place in Europe and beyond, featured input from Elfa Kere, DG Justice, Freedom and Security (DG JLS) at the European Commission (EC), as well as industry opinions from Gemalto, Giesecke & Devrient, IBM, Infineon Technologies, Precise Biometrics, Schiphol Group, Siemens and TeleTrust.

“It is clear that where the highest levels of security are demanded at airports, RTP technology is making a real difference in speeding up passenger throughput while ensuring high levels of security are maintained,” says Ingo Susemihl, of the Silicon Trust Steering Committee. 

During the event, Dr Detlef Houdeau, senior director, Business Development, Identification at Infineon Technologies and moderator of the session, reported: “Significant progress has been made in the areas of ePassports, national electronic ID cards (NeID), visas and eResidence permit cards. RTPs are now in operation in airports in locations as far a field as France, UK, the Netherlands, Germany, the USA and Japan. Additional travel programs at land and sea ports are also making headway.”

The event also included input from Peter Graham, associate partner, Global Customs, Ports and Border Management, IBM, who presented findings from the UK MiSENSE trial at London Heathrow Airport. Travellers have been impressed with the new system and found it straightforward to use, with 87% saying the enrolment process was easy or very easy. The most important benefit to 72% of travelers was that it offers the chance to speed up the airport process. They valued the opportunity to reduce waiting times at security. And 89% said they would recommend the service to fellow travelers.

Bruno Rouchouze, Government Industry director, Identity Department, product and solution management, Gemalto, explained how smart tokens could provide interoperability for RTPS.

“Constructive dialogue was established between a variety of industry and government stakeholders and significant progress has been made with RTPs. Delegates were unified in their views that smart tokens are the perfect answer to security, interoperability and privacy requirements,” says Ingo Susemihl. “But we need to have a strong task force at an EU level to coordinate, drive and deploy standards and frameworks for eID dedicated to travelers. The eTraveller European programme needs to be carefully aligned with the views and needs of society.”