Le 7 juin, le Parlement européen a approuvé en première lecture après accord avec le Conseil deux rapports sur le système européen d'information sur les visas (VIS) destiné à devenir la plus grande base de données du monde. Toutefois, le VIS est accusé de menacer toujours plus la vie privée des citoyens et les Conservateurs recommandent au Royaume-Uni de ne pas y participer.
Police across the European Union will now be able to share DNA records, under plans approved on 6 June, but in giving a green light to a scheme for improved security in the EU, MEPs insisted on guarantees for people's privacy and basic rights.
Under another agreement, an EU-wide database is to be set up to manage visa applications from people living outside the EU who want to enter the Schengen area.
The German EU Presidency wants the European Council to adopt the Prüm Treaty (a police co-operation deal signed in 2005 by seven member states (Germany, Spain, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Austria and Belgium, with the UK government and Italy broadly supportive) into EU law.
Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP said: "The agreement I have reached with the German Presidency is sound and balanced...The Council must transform these words into deeds and deliver satisfactory agreement on these important measures. We cannot afford to take risks with big biometric schemes like this, as the potential consequences of misuse or abuse would deeply undermine civil liberties."
Ludford also insisted that "the VIS is a border-management system and its principle is not to combat terrorism and crime. Let us remember that 99.9% of visitors to the EU are legitimate travellers who do not have any connection with criminality whatsoever, nor indeed do illegal immigrants or unauthorised entrants."
Portuguese Socialist MEP Fausto Correia, who presented a report on data sharing between police forces, said: "We have tried to find a balance between the needs of efficient co-operation between EU police forces in the fight against terrorism and organised crime on the one hand while on the other guaranteeing the protection of people's fundamental rights. The inclusion of the Prüm Treaty in EU law, and its extension, must preserve the confidentiality of personal data. Information about ethnic origins, sexual orientation or health should be dealt with only in cases of absolute necessity."
Labour MEP Michael Cashman agreed: "I welcome the adoption of this report after long and complex negotiations. I believe the final agreement represents a balanced and constructive approach. It will enable our member states to record and exchange information regarding visa applications in a more coherent way whilst at the same time ensuring applicants' rights are protected. On biometrics, it is essential for the EU to take a coherent position on this issue. Technologies such as biometrics can and will improve our security without infringing on our civil liberties if properly and appropriately used. We must embrace this technology rather than shy away from it."
The Conservatives, however, have condemned the reports as an invasion of privacy rights, and have called on UK government to opt out. Conservative Justice and Home Affairs Spokesman MEP Philip Bradbourn said: "The implications...are far-reaching and will affect all EU citizens. To give just one example, the provisions of this Treaty could mean that data be shared and exchanged on all EU citizens regardless of whether they are suspected or convicted of a crime.
European Data Protection Supervisor Peter Hustinx expressed his own concern: "The circle of data subjects that can be included in this system is not limited to data of persons suspected or convicted of specific crimes."
Bradbourn added: "Overall this...is a classic example of where a few member states are trying to impose their system on all member states. The eight countries signed up to the Prum Treaty are now trying to foist it upon the rest."
The VIS, which will be the world's largest biometric database, with 70 million sets of fingerprints, aims principally to improve the management and security of EU visa-issuing procedures by allowing all relevant authorities in Schengen states to pool information, as well as fighting terrorism and other serious crime by allowing police and Europol to have supervised access.
Despite the difficulties associated with such complex legislative measures, agreement has been reached with the Council in a single reading.
The House also debated cross-border co-operation with a focus on the VIS. On behalf of the Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee, Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP backed a regulation setting up a database allowing EU states to exchange data on short-stay visas and visa applications from non-EU citizens who wish to enter the EU's Schengen area.
