Brussels, 05/07/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 5 July, the European Parliament approved the creation of a European agency responsible for managing data flows for the Schengen area of freedom, security and justice, between the Schengen Information System (SIS II), the Visa Information System (VIS), the Eurodac system (database containing fingerprints of asylum seekers) and other potential electronic data systems for the Schengen area. The agency, whose main office will be in Tallinn, is expected to begin its work in summer 2012. The “agency will keep these large-scale IT systems functioning 24/7, ensuring a continuous flow of data among the member states responsible for entering data in the systems”, said the rapporteur, Carlos Coelho (EPP, Portugal). Although the agency will be based in Tallinn, the tasks on technical development and preparation for the operational management of SIS II and VIS will continue to be carried out in Strasbourg, and a back-up site for IT systems is already in place in Sankt Johann im Pongau (Austria). (S.P./transl.jl)