Framework for interoperability between EU information systems

Key points

The EESC:

• considers the European Commission's proposal for improving interoperability between EU information systems for borders and visas and for police and judicial cooperation, asylum and migration to be useful and positive;
• finds that this interoperability needs to be a strategic objective for the EU, in order for the Union to continue to be an open area that safeguards fundamental rights and mobility. The EU and the Member States have an obligation to protect the lives and the safety of all human beings;
• is of the opinion that there will be more understanding for the interoperability measures if they ensure a balance between freedom and security in accordance with the separation of powers, safeguard the fundamental rights of the people concerned, reiterate the requirement of including data protection principles from the design stage and do not create new barriers to the normal flow of passengers and freight;
• calls for the procedures and guarantees regarding the use of data for law enforcement purposes to provide for application of the General Data Protection Regulation;
• requires the parties responsible to report annually to the decision-making authorities and to the Commission regarding the security of the interoperability components, and every two years on the impact of the measures on fundamental rights;
• recommends robust training programmes for the authorities concerned and eu-LISA staff, also strict checks on the competences of staff of and applicants for that agency;
• has concerns about the funding for the new system. It is crucial to follow up on the planning in order to avoid budget slippage and see the project through to the end in 2029;
• recommends that the public should be kept informed of progress on the project until its completion;
• considers that the possibility must be available of halting the whole project if freedom and fundamental rights were to be threatened by abuse of the system.