The negotiators from the European Parliament and EU Council have resumed their work on the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) for nationals from third countries exempt from visas.
Three sessions of inter-institutional negotiations are due to take place at technical level by 26 January. On 12 December, the negotiators managed to come to an agreement on the main aspects of the system but were not at that point able to conclude their work (see EUROPE 11923).
"At the last trialogue, we agreed on a few policy outlines", the European Parliament's rapporteur on this issue, Kinga Gál (EPP, Hungary), said last week in the civil liberties committee.
The Parliament considers it obtained concessions during this meeting, especially on the period for keeping data and the establishment of a consultative council on fundamental rights. In accordance with MEPs' wishes, passengers transiting between two airports should be exempt from the requirement of having authorisation to travel. As regards the price for this authorisation, it has been set at €7, although the Council advocated €5 and the European Parliament €10.
These elements were part of a political agreement on 12 December but the overall work still needs to be consolidated. However, "we are nearly there", Gál stated this week. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)