Date: 2023-02-02Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/220 of 1 February 2023 laying down and developing the universal message format (UMF) standard pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/817 of the European Parliament and of the Council
Issued by European Commission
· Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs
Executive Summary:
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/220, dated 1 February 2023, lays down and develops the universal message format (UMF) standard. This standard is pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/817, which establishes a framework for interoperability between EU information systems in the field of borders and visa. The decision defines the UMF standard for cross-border information exchange and its application in specific EU information systems. This decision entered into force on the twentieth day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Key Points / Main Content:
UMF Standard Definition:
* The UMF standard for cross-border information exchange in Justice and Home Affairs is defined in Annex I.
* Annex I consists of the UMF3.1BusinessDescription., UMF XML Schema Overview 3.1, and UMF V3.1 SchemaTestSamples documents available on the European Commission's CIRCABC website.
UMF Standard Usage:
* The UMF standard may be used for information exchange between information systems, authorities, or organizations in Justice and Home Affairs.
* It shall be used to describe information exchanged between information systems in the field of Justice and Home Affairs.
* The UMF standard elements in Annex II shall be used in the development of the Entry/Exit System (EES), the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), the European search portal (ESP), the common identity repository (CIR), and the multiple-identity detector (MID).
* The UMF standard is not mandatory for describing data elements stored in an information system or database.
Specific System Applications:
* The UMF standard shall be used to describe and label identity, travel document, and biometric data queried and received via the ESP.
* The UMF standard shall be used to describe and label the identity, travel document, and biometric data exchanged with the CIR and the MID.
Schengen Acquis and Member State Participation:
* Denmark is bound by this Decision.
* Ireland is not participating in the adoption of this Decision and is not bound by it.
* The Decision constitutes a development of the Schengen acquis for Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.
* For Cyprus, Bulgaria, and Romania, this Decision builds upon the Schengen acquis.
Impact Analysis:
European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA) and Other Union Agencies:
* Impact: They may need to use the UMF standard in the development of new information exchange models and information systems in the area of Justice and Home Affairs.
* Action Required: Implement the UMF standard as appropriate in the development of new systems.
Authorities and Organizations in the Field of Justice and Home Affairs:
* Impact: The UMF standard provides a framework for structured, cross-border information exchange.
* Action Required: Consider using the UMF standard for information exchange and implement it where appropriate.
Developers of EES, ETIAS, ESP, CIR, and MID:
* Impact: Required to use specific elements derived from the UMF standard in the development of these systems.
* Action Required: Use the UMF standard elements in Annex II for development.
EU Information System Data Managers:
* Impact: The UMF standard is available as a guide for information exchange and labeling; however, it is not mandatory for data storage.
* Action Required: Evaluate the benefits of using the UMF standard for data element descriptions, but no immediate action is mandated for data storage.
Key Entities Referenced
European Parliament: Legislative branch of the European Union.
Council of the European Union: A component of the EU legislative branch where national ministers from each EU country meet to adopt laws and coordinate policies.
European Commission: Executive branch of the European Union responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, and managing the EU's day-to-day affairs.
Regulation EU 2019/817: Regulation establishing a framework for interoperability between EU information systems in the field of borders and visa.
Universal Message Format UMF: A standard for structured, cross-border information exchange between information systems, authorities, or organizations in the field of Justice and Home Affairs.
Schengen acquis: The body of law which regulates the functioning of the Schengen Area.
EntryExit System EES: An automated system that registers travelers from non-EU countries each time they cross an EU external border.
European Travel Information and Authorisation System ETIAS: A system for visa-exempt nationals to apply for travel authorization to enter the Schengen Area.
L 30/18 EN Official Journal of the European Union 2.2.2023
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2023/220
of 1 February 2023
laying down and developing the universal message format (UMF) standard pursuant to Regulation
(EU) 2019/817 of the European Parliament and of the Council
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2019/817 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2019on establishing
a framework for interoperability between EU information systems in the field of borders and visa and amending
Regulations (EC) No 767/2008, (EU) 2016/399, (EU) 2017/2226, (EU) 2018/1240, (EU) 2018/1726 and (EU) 2018/1861
of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Decisions 2004/512/EC and 2008/633/JHA(1), and in
particular Article 38(3) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Regulation (EU) 2019/817, together with Regulation (EU) 2019/818 of the European Parliament and of the
Council(2) establishes a framework to ensure interoperability between the EU information systems in the field of
borders, visa, police and judicial cooperation, asylum and migration.
(2) Those Regulations provide for a universal message format (UMF) to serve as a standard for structured, cross-border
information exchange between information systems, authorities or organisations in the field of Justice and Home
Affairs.
(3) It is necessary to lay down specific UMF rules for the development of the EES, ETIAS, the European search portal
(ESP), the common identity repository (CIR), the multiple-identity detector (MID) as defined in Regulation (EU)
2019/817 and to have a specific provision for labelling data fields for the systems that are in the scope of
interoperability.
(4) Given that Regulation (EU) 2019/817 builds upon the Schengen acquis, in accordance with Article 4 of Protocol
No 22 on the Position of Denmark, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning
of the European Union, Denmark notified the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2019/817 in its national law. It is
therefore bound by this Decision.
(5) This Decision constitutes a development of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in which Ireland does not take
part(3). Ireland is therefore not taking part in the adoption of this Decision and is not bound by it or subject to its
application.
(1) OJ L 135, 22.5.2019, p. 27.
(2) Regulation (EU) 2019/818 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2019 on establishing a framework for
interoperability between EU information systems in the field of police and judicial cooperation, asylum and migration and amending
Regulations (EU) 2018/1726, (EU) 2018/1862 and (EU) 2019/816 (OJ L 135, 22.5.2019, p. 85).
(3) This Decision falls outside the scope of measures provided for in Council Decision 2002/192/EC of 28 February 2002 concerning
Ireland’s request to take part in some of the provisions of the Schengen acquis (OJ L 64, 7.3.2002, p. 20).2.2.2023 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 30/19
(6) As regards Iceland and Norway, this Decision constitutes a development of the provisions of the Schengen acquis
within the meaning of the Agreement concluded by the Council of the European Union and the Republic of Iceland
and the Kingdom of Norway concerning the association of those two States with the implementation, application
and development of the Schengen acquis(4), which fall within the area referred to in Article 1, point A of Council
Decision 1999/437/EC(5).
(7) As regards Switzerland, this Decision constitutes a development of the provisions of the Schengen acquis within the
meaning of the Agreement between the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation
on the Swiss Confederation’s association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen
acquis(6), which fall within the area referred to in Article 1, point A of Decision 1999/437/EC, read in conjunction
with Article 3 of Council Decision 2008/146/EC(7).
(8) As regards Liechtenstein, this Decision constitutes a development of the provisions of the Schengen acquis within the
meaning of the Protocol between the European Union, the European Community, the Swiss Confederation and the
Principality of Liechtenstein on the accession of the Principality of Liechtenstein to the Agreement between the
European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the Swiss Confederation’s association
with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis(8)which fall within the area referred
to in Article 1, point A of Decision 1999/437/EC read in conjunction with Article 3 of Council Decision
2011/350/EU(9).
(9) As regards Cyprus, Bulgaria and Romania, this Decision constitutes an act building upon, or otherwise relating to,
the Schengen acquis within, respectively, the meaning of Article 3(1) of the 2003 Act of Accession and Article 4(1)
of the 2005 Act of Accession.
(10) The European Data Protection Supervisor was consulted in accordance with Article 42(1) of Regulation (EU)
2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council(10)and delivered an opinion on 2 August 2022.
(11) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee established by
Article 74(1) of Regulation (EU) 2019/817,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
Definition
For the purposes of this Decision,
(4) OJ L 176, 10.7.1999, p. 36.
(5) Council Decision 1999/437/EC of 17 May 1999 on certain arrangements for the application of the Agreement concluded by the
Council of the European Union and the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway concerning the association of those two
States with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis (OJ L 176, 10.7.1999, p. 31).
(6) OJ L 53, 27.2.2008, p. 52.
(7) Council Decision 2008/146/EC of 28 January 2008 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Community, of the Agreement
between the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the Swiss Confederation’s association with
the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis (OJ L 53, 27.2.2008, p. 1).
(8) OJ L 160, 18.6.2011, p. 21.
(9) Council Decision 2011/350/EU of 7 March 2011 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Protocol between the
European Union, the European Community, the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein on the accession of the
Principality of Liechtenstein to the Agreement between the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation
on the Swiss Confederation’s association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis, relating to the
abolition of checks at internal borders and movement of persons (OJ L 160, 18.6.2011, p. 19).
(10) Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2018 on the protection of natural persons
with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and on the free movement of
such data, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 and Decision No 1247/2002/EC (OJ L 295, 21.11.2018, p. 39).L 30/20 EN Official Journal of the European Union 2.2.2023
(1) ‘information system’ means a central or national data processing systems and any of the following interoperability
components: the European search portal (ESP), the common identity repository (CIR) and the multiple-identity
detector (MID).
Article 2
Universal Message Format (UMF) standard
1. The universal message format (UMF) standard for cross-border information exchange between authorities or
organisations in the field of Justice and Home Affairs shall be as set out in Annex I.
2. The UMF standard shall be used, if appropriate, in the development by the European Union Agency for the
Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA) or by any other
Union agency for new information exchange models and information systems in the area of Justice and Home Affairs.
3. The elements set out in Annex II, derived from the universal message format (UMF) standard, shall be used in the
development of the Entry/Exit System (EES), the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), and the
following interoperability components: the ESP, the CIR and the MID.
Article 3
Use of UMF
1. The UMF standard may be used for information exchange between information systems, authorities or organisations
in the field of Justice and Home Affairs.
2. The UMF standard shall be used to describe information exchanged between information systems in the field of
Justice and Home Affairs without prejudice to the specific provisions related to the interoperability components laid down
in Articles 4 and 5.
3. The UMF standard shall not be mandatory for the description of data elements stored in an information system or
database.
Article 4
Use of the UMF standard for the development of the ESP
The UMF standard shall be used to describe and label the identity, travel document and biometric data queried and received
via the ESP.
Article 5
Use of the UMF standard for the development of the CIR and the MID
The UMF standard shall be used to describe and label the identity, travel document and biometric data used for the
information exchanged with the CIR and the MID referred to in Articles 20 and 22 of Regulation (EU) 2019/817.
Article 6
Entry into force
This Decision shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the
European Union.2.2.2023 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 30/21
Done at Brussels, 1 February 2023.
For the Commission
The President
Ursula VON DER LEYENL 30/22 EN Official Journal of the European Union 2.2.2023
ANNEX I
The Universal Message Format (UMF) standard consists of the following documents delivered as a result of the UMF Project
financed by the European Commission.
(1) ‘UMF3.1_BusinessDescription.’,
(2) ‘UMF XML Schema Overview 3.1’,
(3) ‘UMF V3.1 Schema&TestSamples’.
These documents are available on the https://circabc.europa.eu/ui/group/af638ba5-eb84-4476-87fb-9a76ad669d2e. This
website is managed by the UMF Secretariat hosted within Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs of the
European Commission. All updates of these documents are published on the same site.2.2.2023 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 30/23
ANNEX II
UMF taxonomy table of identity and travel document data elements in EES, VIS, ETIAS, ECRIS -TCN and interoperability components.
Label of data elements UMF mapping Description
FamilyName PersonIdentity.PersonCoreName. The surname or last name of a person. Family
FamilyName name is usually shared by members of a family. It
contains all the parts of the family name
including prefixes.
FamilyNameAtBirth PersonIdentity.PersonCoreName. Surname, family name or last name of a person
BirthName at birth
PreviousFamilyName a1) PersonIdentity.OtherName.Type Surname, family name or last name used in the
LUT-value: PreviousName past and legitimately changed.
a2) PersonIdentity.OtherName.De
scription
PreviousFirstNames a1) PersonIdentity.OtherName.Type Previous names, e.g. when first names were
LUT-value: PreviousName legitimately changed.
a2) PersonIdentity.OtherName.De
scription
OtherName a1) PersonIdentity.OtherName.Type Other name is a formal or unofficial name by
LUT-value: NotAssignableName which a person is known (alias(es), artistic
a2) PersonIdentity.OtherName.De name(s), usual name(s)).
scription
[Available with UMF 3.1]
FirstName PersonIdentity.PersonCoreName. The first name(s) of a person. All first names that
FirstName are part of a person identity.
DateOfBirth PersonIdentity.DateOfBirth The date on which a person was born or was
officially deemed to be born.
PlaceOfBirth PersonIdentity.PlaceOfBirth City, village or another locality where a person
was born or deemed to be born.
CountryOfBirth PersonIdentity.CountryOfBirth Country of birth is the country where a person
was born or officially deemed to be born
Gender PersonIdentity.Gender Gender is the sex of a person
FamilyNameOfFather a1) PersonIdentity.ParentOrGuar Surname, last name of the first parent (the
dianName.Type father) of a person
LUT-value: Father
a2) PersonIdentity.ParentOrGuar
dianName.FamilyName
[Available with UMF 3.1]L 30/24 EN Official Journal of the European Union 2.2.2023
UMF taxonomy table of identity and travel document data elements in EES, VIS, ETIAS, ECRIS -TCN and interoperability components.
Label of data elements UMF mapping Description
FirstNameOfFather a1) PersonIdentity.ParentOrGuar First name(s) of the first parent (the father) of a
dianName.Type person
LUT-value: Father
a2) PersonIdentity.ParentOrGuar
dianName.FirstName
[Available with UMF 3.1]
FamilyNameOfMother a1) PersonIdentity.ParentOrGuar Surname, last name of the second parent (the
dianName.Type mother) of a person
LUT-value: Mother
a2) PersonIdentity.ParentOrGuar
dianName.FamilyName
[Available with UMF 3.1]
FirstNameOfMother a1) PersonIdentity.ParentOrGuar First name(s) of the second parent (the mother)
dianName.Type of a person
LUT-value: Mother
a2) PersonIdentity.ParentOrGuar
dianName.FirstName
[Available with UMF 3.1]
Nationality PersonIdentity.Nationality.Country Country in which a person holds legal
citizenship (or indication of a stateless
condition).
NationalityAtBirth a1) PersonIdentity.Nationality.Coun Country or countries in which a person held
try legal citizenship at birth
a2) PersonIdentity.Nationality.Start
Date = DateOfBirth
DocumentType Document.DocumentType Type of the document
DocumentNumber Document.NumberInformation. Alphanumeric number, which has been
Number assigned by the owner, bearer, user, publisher,
distributor, issuer or manufacturer of the
document.
IssuingCountry Document.IssuingAuthority. Country of the issuing authority of the
NationalAffiliation document
IssuingAuthority Document.IssuingAuthority. The name of the authority that issued the
Department/Agency.Name document
IssueDate Document.IssueDate Date when the document was issued
ValidUntil Document.ValidUntil Date until the document is valid
FullName PersonIdentity.PersonCoreName. Full name is a complete name of a person. The
FullName attribute full name contains the complete name
of a person. In addition to the content of first
name, family name and, in some systems,
patronymic name, this can carry additional
parts of a person’s name such as titles, middle
names or suffixes like ‘the third’, ‘III’ or names
which are neither a first (given) nor a family
name2.2.2023 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 30/25
Biometric data elements present in EES and sBMS (shared Biometric Matching Service)
Label of data elements Description
BiometricType Indication of the biometric modality.
NISTFormat The NIST format that was used to exchange the biometric sample.
NIST The binary file of the biometric data.
Result of the comparison, indicating the degree of similarity
between the biometric samples (for fingerprints, the matching
MatchingScore
score is for the whole fingerprint set from the probe data). The
higher the score, the higher the similarity.
This element indicates in which interval the matching score lies
MatchingInterval below, in-between and above the matching threshold and possible
matching threshold.
Facial image
QualityValue An indication of the quality of the biometric. The biometric
quality scores of the facial images are based on an algorithm
that follow the ISO/IEC 19794-5:2011 recommendations.
NotProvidedReason Code table value indicating a reason why facial image was not
provided.
Source Code table value indicating the source of the facial image.
Fingerprint
QualityValue An indication of the quality of the biometric. The biometric
quality scores of the fingerprints are based on the NFIQ 2.0
(NIST Fingerprint Image Quality version 2.0).
NotProvidedReason Code table value indicating the reason why fingerprints were
not provided.
FingersPermutation Indicator whether the verification should be performed with
fingers permutation or not.
HandsPermutation Indicator whether the search should be performed with
hands permutation or not. Only applicable for identifications
with fingerprints.