Ahead of the introduction of the fingerprinting procedure for Russian applicants for Schengen visas, the European Union is concerned about the scope of the application of the Russian law on personal data protection and expects to reach a compromise with Moscow, Head of the European Union Delegation to Russia Vygaudas Usackas said.
“The only thing that causes our concern now is the scope of the application of the law on the protection of personal data of Russian citizens,” Usackas said in an interview published in Rossiiskaya Gazeta.
“The servers of the Visa Information System where the Russians’ data will be stored are located in Europe,” he said.
“At the present time, we are holding consultations on the matter with the Russian government. We hope a mutually acceptable solution will be found,” Usackas said.
Amendments to the Russian law On Personal Data stipulating that personal data of Russian citizens must be stored on Russian territory will take effect on Sept. 1, 2015.
The EU’s Visa Information System (VIS) will start being applied in Russia on Sept. 14, 2015. The new rules stipulate that, in submitting applications for a Schengen visa, applicants will have to undergo a fingerprinting procedure and submit their digital photo.
