Transfer of European citizens’ biometric data to the Trump administration

Question for oral answer O-000015/2026
to the Commission
Rule 142
Leila Chaibi (The Left), Rudi Kennes (The Left), Matjaž Nemec (S&D), Jonas Sjöstedt (The Left), Thomas Waitz (Verts/ALE), Martin Günther (The Left), Majdouline Sbai (Verts/ALE), Per Clausen (The Left), Birgit Sippel (S&D), Saskia Bricmont (Verts/ALE), Lynn Boylan (The Left), Sofie Eriksson (S&D), Bruno Gonçalves (S&D), Catarina Martins (The Left), Heléne Fritzon (S&D), Pierre Jouvet (S&D), Manon Aubry (The Left), Marc Botenga (The Left), Özlem Demirel (The Left), Anthony Smith (The Left), Johan Danielsson (S&D), Martin Schirdewan (The Left), Chloé Ridel (S&D), Irena Joveva (Renew), Marie Toussaint (Verts/ALE), Markéta Gregorová (Verts/ALE), Leoluca Orlando (Verts/ALE), Jutta Paulus (Verts/ALE), Rasmus Andresen (Verts/ALE), Ilaria Salis (The Left), Erik Marquardt (Verts/ALE), Pernando Barrena Arza (The Left), Danilo Della Valle (The Left), Nora Mebarek (S&D), Damien Carême (The Left), David Cormand (Verts/ALE), Evin Incir (S&D), Cecilia Strada (S&D), Arash Saeidi (The Left), Adnan Dibrani (S&D), Dario Tamburrano (The Left), Ana Miranda Paz (Verts/ALE), François Kalfon (S&D), Irene Montero (The Left), Elisabeth Grossmann (S&D), Rima Hassan (The Left), Hanna Gedin (The Left), Elio Di Rupo (S&D), Marina Mesure (The Left)

Under 'Enhanced Border Security Partnership'[1], the United States is demanding access to the biometric data of European citizens (including fingerprints and facial recognition) by December 2026. Should this be refused, the US administration has threatened to revoke the visa waiver for citizens of the Schengen Area.

While Member States will be responsible for negotiating the technical implementation of these data transfers with Washington, the Commission is tasked with addressing the general framework with the Trump administration.

The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) noted in its opinion[2] that this would constitute the first agreement concluded by the EU regarding the large-scale transfer of European citizens' biometric data to a non-EU country. The EDPS is requesting that a comprehensive impact assessment on the consequences for the fundamental rights of Europeans be conducted prior to any conclusion.

In any event, this ultimatum represents an unacceptable infringement on the sovereignty and privacy of European citizens.

Given the above, could the Commission please answer the following:

• 1.Does it consider that the recent stance of the US administration satisfies the requirements under the General Data Protection Regulation regarding the transfer of European citizens' data to non-EU countries?
• 2.What, in its view, are the 'red lines' that would lead to the indefinite suspension of these negotiations?
• 3.Will it allow European biometric data to be transferred to all US agencies, specifically the National Security Agency?
• 4.If a Member State refuses to negotiate with Washington, how does the Commission intend to provide support?
• 5.Should the United States revoke the visa waiver for Schengen Area citizens, will the Commission adopt a reciprocity measure?

Submitted: 20.3.2026

Lapses: 21.6.2026

• [1] https://www.euractiv.com/news/exclusive-eu-willing-to-let-us-immigration-save-share-travellers-data-under-visa-deal/.
• [2] https://www.edps.europa.eu/press-publications/press-news/press-releases/2025/sharing-personal-data-united-states-must-be-accompanied-comprehensive-and-effective-safeguards_en.