On Tuesday 12 December, the European Commission unveiled new initiatives to expand the interoperability of European information systems such as the Schengen Information System, the VIS and ECRIS systems and future regimes such as the entry and exit system or the foreign traveller authorisation system, ETIAS.
In a draft regulation, the European Commission suggests that the different systems would work better together and be accessible simultaneously to police forces and judicial authorities needing information about an individual, the aim of the proposal being that such law enforcement services would be able to obtain all the information available on an individual in the various databases through a single search.
This would take the form of a European search website which would remove the need to search all existing databases separately. But it would not create a new information system will collect new data, explained Internal Affairs Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos.
The proposal aims to ensure better use of data, explain the Commissioner who was standing beside Julian King, the Commissioner for security. With better connected and more robust systems enabling law enforcement agencies to get all the information about an individual on a single screen, Dimitris Avramoupoulos said it would no longer be possible for people to slip through the net as had happened with the Berlin attacks in which some of the terrorists had multiple identities.
Police forces already carry out checks but the current system takes a long time, added Julian King. While a zero-risk situation is not possible, he said it should be possible to make life more difficult for terrorists.
In order to to detect multiple identities used by some individuals or fraudulent identities, a shared service of biometric data using digital fingerprints or facial images will be used to consult databases and detect information in various EU information systems, explains the Commission. A common listing of identity data will provide biometric information and basic biographies such as name and date of birth for non-EU nationals so that such individuals can be reliably identified. Using this information, a detector of multiple identities will immediately inform border guards and police of cases of identity fraud or multiple identities.
In terms of practicalities, the Commission proposes a two-stage approach for competent authorities with the authorisation to access such information. Initially, searches will be done on a hit or no-hit basis. After that, if there is a result, law enforcement agencies could request access to the information required in line with the relevant rules and guarantees on the protection of personal data. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)