On Wednesday 13 March, the European Parliament adopted new rules for the Visa Information System (VIS) and validated its position on EU funds intended for migration and internal security.
In the first vote, the assembly approved the report by Portuguese MEP Carlos Coelho (EPP) that was adopted in early February in committee (see EUROPE 12187/5); this provided for mandatory security checks in all EU databases to detect multiple and fraudulent identities. Long-stay visas, golden visas or residence permits would also be integrated into the system and finally, the new rules would also provide for the lowering of the age required to obtain fingerprints and facial images from a minimum of 12 years to 6 years. This latter point being in order to facilitate investigations in the event of parental abductions, said the European Parliament in a statement. The S&D group deplored the lowering of the age limit, and did not consider this change justified. Europol and Member States' law enforcement authorities are also to have better access to this improved VIS, which will be interoperable with other European systems. Parliament adopted its position by 522 votes to 122, with 31 abstentions. The trilogues with the EU Council are now due to begin.
Migration Fund
In respect of European funds on migration and internal security, Parliament confirmed at first reading the votes of the European Parliament Civil Liberties Committee on 20 February (see EUROPE 12198/4), which describe how Parliament intends the funds from the Asylum and Migration programmes and the Internal Security Fund to be used for the period 2021-2027. MEPs approved the renewed Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF), the budget for which for 2021-2027 will increase to €9.2 billion (€10.41 billion in current prices and 51% more than under the previous financial framework).
They also voted in favour of the creation of a financial support mechanism for border and visa management under the new Integrated Border Management Fund (IBM Fund) with a budget of €7.1 billion (€8 billion in current prices), while also doubling the Internal Security Fund (ISF) to €2.5 billion in current prices (€2.2 billion in 2018). (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)