Commission proposes changes to JLS databases to strengthen EU internal security and facilitate legitimate travelling

With a view to achieving a higher level of EU internal security the European Commission today adopted a package of measures consisting of: (a) a proposal for a Council Decision concerning the access for consultation to the Visa Information System (VIS) to authorities of Member States responsible for internal security and to Europol for the purposes of the prevention, detection and investigation of terrorist offences and of other serious criminal offences, and (b) a communication on the medium- and long-term development of the three common European databases in the field of justice and home affairs: the Schengen Information System (SIS), the Visa Information System (VIS) and EURODAC, the database containing fingerprints of asylum seekers and illegal immigrants.

Vice-President Franco Frattini, Commissioner responsible for Justice, Freedom and Security, underlined the Commission’s approach: «It is essential in the fight against terrorism and organised crime for the relevant services of the Member States and relevant bodies of the European Union, such as Europol, to have the fullest and most up-to-date information if they are to perform their tasks properly and effectively. However, this can only be done subject to strict respect of rules on fundamental rights».

While progressively establishing an area of freedom, security and justice, the European Union is committed to ensuring the free movement of persons and a high level of security. In this context, top priority has been given to the development and establishment of the Visa Information System (VIS) as a system for the exchange of visa data between Member States. The objective of the proposal for a Council Decision is to establish the legal basis to allow for and to lay down the conditions under which Member States’ authorities responsible for internal security and the European Police Office (Europol) may access the VIS. Under the proposal Member State authorities responsible for internal security should be guaranteed access to VIS in the course of their duties in relation to the prevention, detection and investigation of criminal offences, including terrorist acts and threats, subject to strict compliance with the rules governing the protection of personal data.

The communication on improved effectiveness, enhanced interoperability and synergies among European databases in the area of justice and home affairs begins by tackling the technical issues involved in interoperability and synergies among systems (either already in operation or under development) and goes on to show how these systems could, in addition to their existing roles, more effectively underpin the policies linked to the free movement of persons and contribute to the fight against terrorism and organised crime. The communication also looks into the possibility of taking other initiatives, for example the establishment of a system for monitoring entry and exit movements and a system making it easier for frequent travellers to cross external borders, or the creation of a European criminal Automated Fingerprints Identification System (AFIS).

While presenting different scenarios that can be considered, the communication does not prejudge the outcome of an essential in-depth debate which should cover aspects such as the overriding need to preserve the delicate balance between the measures envisaged and the protection of fundamental rights (with special reference to the protection of personal data), as embodied in the European Convention on Human Rights and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

IP/05/1463

Brussels, 24 November 2005