The three documents on the Schengen Information System were adopted by a large majority. Rapporteur Carlos Coelho (EPP) said that SIS II would help to strengthen external borders and security.
While the adopted reports only lay out the legal basis for SIS II, the question of the Schengen-zone enlargement timeline is still pending. Justice and Security Commissioner Franco Frattini referred to technical problems as the reason for the delay. He said: "I can say very sincerely that at this moment, only Slovenia would be technically capable of sticking to the existing timetable." The Schengen enlargement delay was also discussed among MEPs during the debate, where representatives of the new member states urged a speeding-up of efforts to find a compromise.
A spokesperson said the Parliament intended to send a signal to achieve an adoption in first reading. Nevertheless, the controversial issue of allowing intelligence services to have access to the database, brought forward by the Council on a German initiative, was not included. Therefore, an adoption in first reading might be at risk.
