Negotiators of the European Parliament and the European Council have agreed on the modernization and additional guarantees for access to the various systems and databases for, among other things, the issuance and control of Schengen visas.
For example, more biometric data will be collected in the future in order to trace missing children. According to the political agreement reached on Tuesday, there will be a regulation with clear conditions for access to different systems and databases, as well as the necessary safeguards for fundamental rights.
Most important reform since VIS was introduced
Parliament 's key demands have been taken into account in the negotiations . The deal provides:
- improved legal and technical architecture of the system and interoperability with the other EU databases (Schengen Information System, Entry/Exit System, European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), Eurodac, Europol data and ECRIS-TCN as part of the visa procedure;
- this also applies to documents with an application for long-term residence (MVV), the rights of the holders of such documents are better guaranteed;
- improved access for Europol and law enforcement authorities to the Visa Information System (VIS);
- the age at which fingerprints and facial images can be taken from minors will be lowered from 12 to 6 years to help identify and track missing children, combat child trafficking and provide insight into family ties;
- fingerprints of persons over the age of 75 are no longer required;
- and there will be better safeguards for the use of facial images for biometric matching.
Paulo Rangel (EVP, PT) says: “The European Parliament must show results to our citizens, such as better protecting external borders, fighting child trafficking and terrorism, strengthening free movement and Schengen and contributing to a more efficient return policy. However, a fundamental principle still needs to be respected: a more extensive system also means better privacy guarantees. This is the most important reform since the VIS was introduced and should be ready in 2023. “
Visa Information System (VIS)
The Visa Information System (VIS) is an EU database used by authorities to check non-EU nationals when they apply for a visa to travel to the Schengen area. It consists of a central IT system and a communication infrastructure that connects consulates in non-EU countries and all external border posts of Schengen states.
In May 2018, the European Commission presented a proposal to upgrade the Visa Information System to better respond to evolving security and migration challenges and to improve the management of the EU's external borders.
Source: European parliament
