 |
 |
Sarah's speech on an EU entry-exit scheme
November 13, 2007 12:00 PM
By Sarah Ludford MEP in European Parliament
By Sarah Ludford MEP in European Parliament
Sarah Ludford:
"In recent correspondence Commissioner Frattini has said that any proposal for an entry-exit system would be made only in early 2008 once the results of two current studies were available. However, it has subsequently been reported in the press that Commissioner Frattini at the informal meeting of EU justice and interior ministers in early October called for a register of biometric identifiers of all non-EU citizens entering and leaving."
"How has Commissioner Frattini been able to announce already an EU entry-exit scheme when there has been no communication from the Commission yet giving an assessment of the feasibility studies?"
Franco Frattini, Vice-President of the Commission:
"As the honourable Member knows, the Portuguese Presidency included the topic of new technologies and integrated border management for discussion at the informal Council of Interior Ministers on 1 October."
"The Presidency presented ideas in relation to increasing security as well as in relation to facilitating travel. I participated, obviously, in the Council's discussion."
"Europe will need to make effective use of the great opportunities new technologies provide in the area of border control. Advancements made in biometric technologies will allow for speedier and more reliable identification of travellers. As a concrete example of steps taken by the Union so far, the introduction of biometric passports and the development of the Visa Information System (VIS) and Schengen Information System II (SIS II) will pave the way for increased use of biometrics at borders. We have, of course, been cooperating very closely with Parliament on both these issues."
"Transforming border processes cannot happen overnight. A step-by-step approach is needed, therefore. It is important to first implement what is already planned before embarking on even more ambitious projects. But it is necessary to develop and maintain a long-term strategy and vision, accompanied by a thorough cost-benefit analysis."
"At the beginning of next year, I will present a communication, not a legislative proposal, outlining how an entry-exit system and a registered travellers programme might look. The communication will evaluate the different options and their impact, including with regard to data protection and other fundamental rights. An entry-exit system and a registered travellers programme should be seen together as part of the same package of measures. Simplifying checks for bona fide travellers allows us to focus resources on high-risk travellers. Faster border checks for bona fide travellers can offset the impact on border crossing times resulting from an entry-exit system.
When implementing such automated system synergies with the business processes and the equipment for SIS II and VIS, we need to examine carefully whether we are using our existing infrastructure as efficiently as possible. This communication on the entry-exit system, which I will present in February, will be part of a borders package, which will also include the evaluation report on Frontex, as requested by the Hague Programme, and a communication on a European surveillance system (EUROSUR)."
"On this basis, I look forward to a truly strategic discussion with Member States and Parliament on the future directions of the Union's border policy, where new technologies will play a decisive role. In other words, it will be, in my view, an initial basis for a comprehensive strategic approach and discussion."
Sarah Ludford:
"Well, I also look forward to such a strategic discussion and I did not have any problems with the first part of your response, Commissioner. But what worries me is that, at that informal JHA Council in October, you were reported as calling for this entry-exit register which you said was extremely necessary, but you had not done a feasibility study. The 2005 communication said that it would be a huge organisational step and might therefore be risky and costly to implement. Are you not pre-empting it?"
"The second part of your response was a sales pitch for entry-exit. We have no idea what the implications are going to be - including for data protection as well as organisation - are they proportional? Yet you are already saying that it is extremely necessary. This seems to me to be putting the cart before the horse, as we say."
What would you like to do next?
-
Subscribe for updates
Follow the party's activity on...
- Twitter:
- Liberal Democrats
- Facebook:
- Liberal Democrats
- YouTube:
- Liberal Democrats