08/06/2021 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 8 June, the European Parliament validated changes to the travel authorisation system for visa-exempt third-country nationals travelling to the EU (ETIAS) to adapt it to European security databases governed by new interoperability rules. The European Parliament adopted two reports implementing these changes by 435 votes to 119 with 141 abstentions and 437 votes to 120 with 138 abstentions. MEPs also approved by 441 votes to 119 with 136 abstentions the link between ETIAS and the ECRIS-TCN system on criminal records, in particular of third-country nationals who may apply for an ETIAS document to come to the EU, the negotiation of which was also not completed when ETIAS was initially adopted. The amendment allows the ETIAS to be linked to the ECRIS-TCN when a search is made on a traveller who has requested an ETIAS document. (SP)