EU Member States are "a long way off" when it comes to implementing the new European rules on the interoperability of information systems, EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson told the European Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee on Tuesday 28 January.
With regard to the interoperability of information systems, which must be operational in 2021, Member States must put in place measures that will enter into force in 2019 (see EUROPE 12254/27). These measures aim in particular to enable police forces to have simultaneous access to European databases when searching for information on an individual.
These include the Schengen Information System, the ETIAs travel authorisation system, the ECRIS-TCN criminal records system, the VIS system, the entry/exit system and the Eurodac database.
The Commissioner took the opportunity to be briefed about the state of implementation of these new rules on 24 January in Zagreb at an informal meeting of Interior Ministers (see EUROPE 12411/1). According to Ms Johansson, "sixteen Member States do not yet have a national implementation plan", "eleven have not yet carried out an assessment of the national legislation needed, twelve have not carried out an assessment of the resources they need" and "seventeen do not have a detailed plan in place".
The Commissioner called on the Member States to get down to work quickly, as the system is based around all of them.
Speaking to MEPs, Ms Johansson also covered the initiatives to be presented in the next five years, such as strengthening Europol's mandate and new proposals to protect infrastructure from cyber attacks. On the latter point, the Commissioner said that these proposals would cover water, health and financing, whereas they currently only cover transport and energy.
Pact on Asylum and Migration. In front of the MPs, the official also briefly mentioned the Pact on Asylum and Migration expected in the coming weeks. Responding to some MEPs such as Roberta Metsola (EPP, Malta), she said the EU's external borders should be strengthened and the arrangements for returning migrants who were not eligible for protection should be more effective. These two elements will be part of the Pact, she said.
As announced in Zagreb, Ms Johansson indicated that new proposals on freezing the assets of terrorist or criminal groups should be considered. Her spokesperson was not able to expand on this in the last few days.
During the debate several MEPs, such as Fabienne Keller (Renew Europe, France), argued for a "European FBI" or an "Erasmus for European police forces". The Commissioner said that she was open to the latter idea and indicated that she could pursue it. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)