Everyone arriving in Europe’s open border area, known as the Schengen zone, should be fingerprinted at the border, according to the VVD’s draft manifesto for next year’s European elections.

The border area should include an ‘all-embracing and clear European registration system involving fingerprints,’ the NRC quotes the draft manifesto as saying.

This would make it clear ‘who comes and goes and under what name’, the draft document states. The party says the measure would deter illegal immigrants, reduce wrongful use of asylum procedures and cut back on human smuggling.

The manifesto, with the slogan ‘Europe when necessary’, goes on to outline key areas where Brussels’ involvement is needed, such as economic growth. But the EU should be less involved in everyday matters and the number of Europe-wide institutes and advisory bodies should be reduced, the party says.

The VVD currently has three out of the 25 Dutch seats in the European parliament. The European elections take place on May 22, 2014.