On Monday 15 October, the committee on civil liberties of the European Parliament reached its position on the European Commission's proposals of late 2016 to reinforce the interoperability of the information systems, to allow facilitated access to the information set out in these various European databases (the SIS, ECRIS-TCN, EURODAC, but also the entry/exit system and the ETIAS travel authorisation system) for border guards, migration services, the police forces and judicial authorities.
The proposals will, amongst other things, create a single information portal making it possible to find information on an individual in a single click, from the various databases related to security and border control.
The reform as approved by the MEPs includes: - a European search portal enabling simultaneous searches, rather than having to make individual searches in each system, the European Parliament explains; - a shared biometric comparison service, to cross-check digital fingerprints and facial images from several systems; - a joint index of identity data providing biographical information such as date of birth and passport numbers of third-country citizens, to enable more reliable identifications; - a multiple identity detector, to verify whether a person is registered on different databases under more than one identity.
The MEPs have also taken steps to ensure that adequate guarantees are in place to protect the fundamental rights and access to data, the Parliament adds.
The reform was dealt with at the Parliament by Jeroen Lenaers (EPP, Netherlands) and Nuno Melo (EPP, Portugal).
The first draft report concerning borders and visas was adopted by 45 votes to 10. The second, based around police and judicial cooperation, asylum and migration, was adopted by 45 votes to 9.
The parliamentary committee, some of whose members threatened this summer to take the dossier hostage to put pressure on to the Council of the EU over the reform of the 'Asylum' package, also adopted a mandate to start informal negotiations with the Council. These negotiations may begin once the entire package has been adopted in plenary. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)