07/06/2016 (Agence Europe) - MEPs support proposal on ECRIS. On Thursday 7 April, the European Parliament Civil Liberties Committee warmly welcomed the European Commission's draft directive presented on 19 January last. This involves extending the European Criminal Information System (ECRIS) to third country nationals (see EUROPE 11471). EP rapporteur, Timothy Kirkhope (ECR, United Kingdom), spoke during the committee debate and explained that the exchange of criminal information between different member state authorities was essential for cooperation in criminal legal matters and would help guarantee confidence in cross-border co-operation. Nonetheless, he did call for controls on all those working with vulnerable people, so as to avoid any loophole that could be exploited by criminals. On the question of taking digital fingerprints, he explained that it was up to member states to decide whether they employ this method. (Maëlle Didion, intern)