The European Union is not just limited to a regional organization of economic integration. It is rather a political Union based on a considerable number of values such as freedom, democracy, rule of law and solidarity. It is made of an Area of freedom, security and justice without internal borders, which overlaps with the internal market. The goal of the Area of freedom, security and justice is to offer European citizens a peaceful, prosperous and secured environment, as well as to guarantee the respect of fundamental rights, including with regard to nationals of third countries. Our research in this field covers the legal challenges related to the development and use of new human identification technologies in conformity with requirements linked to the protection of health, security, privacy, the relation between nationality and citizenship within this area, legal requirements concerning the use of images within criminal proceedings, as well as the status of victims. This research is the outcome of my participation, during 16 months as a post-doctoral researcher, in the collective research programme "IAAIS" (Enhanced Portable Laser Flash Imaging for Better Identification) financed by the French Departments of Homeland Affairs and of Defence. This programme aimed at defining the legal framework applicable to the development and use for the ends of police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters in Europe of a camera which makes it possible to identify persons from a great distance despite bad conditions of sight. 
    In the framework of a collective research project lasting over six months (October 2012-March 2013), which unites researchers of the College of Europe, Aix-Marseille University (CERIC), a think tank (Milieu Ltd.) and national experts from seven Member States we evaluate the effectivity of EU Law by analyzing its measures of transposition and application.