Riga, 07/04/2008 (Agence Europe) - The Latvian authorities tasked with management and security have successfully become integrated into the Schengen area without borders. This was the principal conclusion returned by the Kangaroo Group on 3 April, during a two-day visit to Riga. The Kangaroo Group was led by its president, the MEP Karl von Wogau (EPP-ED, Germany), the Spanish MEP Manuel Medina Ortega (PES), and Girts Valdis Kristovskis (UEN) and Rihards Piks (EPP-ED) of Latvia. At Riga airport, the MEPs visited all infrastructure dedicated to security, such as areas reserved for travellers from countries outside the Schengen zone. They were able to see the police databases such as the Schengen Information System (SIS) and the Visa Information System (VIS) functioning in real time. The MEPs also visited the offices of SIRENE, the body responsible for ensuring the correct functioning of the SIS. During their visit, the MEPs met several officials with responsibility for the security of the external borders, such as Colonel Konstantins Sarigins, the number two of the national border security authority. The colonel explained that between 30 March, the date on which internal air border controls were removed, and 3 April, nearly 160 flights from Schengen countries and 40 flights from non-Schengen countries (including countries such as Russia, Belarus and the United Kingdom) touched down in Riga airport. In 2007, some 3 million passengers arrived in Riga by air, and this figure is set to increase by 10% this year. Since September 2007, the date on which the SIS became operational in Latvia, nearly 60 people with no papers for the Schengen zone have been apprehended and 25 people have been refused entry due to visa problems, explained Colonel Sarigins. More than 50 cases have been recorded relating to car and document theft. In total, the Latvian police arrested 900 illegal immigrants in 2007, 152 of whom were arrested on the border. Most of those detained had exceeded the legal duration of their stay as permitted by their visa. He explained that only half of illegal immigrants can be identified and returned to their country of origin. As a result, he suggested that in future, EURODAC may include the digital fingerprints of illegal immigrants arrested in the various member states. Mr Von Wogau promised to pass this request on at European Parliament level. Lastly, Colonel Sarigins lamented the fact that no political solution is yet available to the problem of long queues on the border between Russia and Latvia. (B.C.)