Honourable Members,
“Strength is in Unity”, according to the famous ancient quote.
Here is what we need to look for in our Union. The Unity of the Union. Unity for our Security.
This is the crucial challenge facing all of us, because our most important duty is to ensure the security of our citizens.
In today’s security environment, strength equals to information and knowledge.
In fact, the capacity to both share and make smart use of information.
Information sharing is our only effective weapon against asymmetric and unpredictable threats.
And, limiting information in our national boxes does not provide security, the opposite.
The recent tragic events in Brussels and Paris showed again Europe’s major weaknesses in fighting terrorism.
First among them: our information sharing. I am sure you will agree.
The architecture of our systems for borders and security needs to improve.
Sharing information is the strongest example of trust between us.
And it is not about reinventing the wheel, either.
Plenty of tools to exchange information effectively are already in place.
Let me give you an example, the Prüm framework.
This is potentially a powerful tool against crime, because it automatically compares DNA, fingerprints and vehicle data.
But Prum is only as useful as the amount of information we put in it.
It is only as helpful as the number of Member States connected to it.
Implementation in practice remains poor.
We are using our powers under the Treaties to get better results– but we all need to understand the importance of implementing what we agree, without going to the Courts.
That is why we presented our vision on Stronger and Smarter Information Systems for Borders and Security in April.
Because we saw these problems, and we saw the need to bring change– both practically and structurally.
First, it’s clear that some systems don’t work as well as they should:
The Schengen Information System contains only names, not fingerprints.
Persons with fraudulent documents can go through it quite easily.
A fingerprint functionality will be developed urgently in coming months.
Second, there are information gaps which are not covered by any system.
We have third-country nationals who don’t need visas.
When not traveling by air, there is no information about them before they arrive.
An EU travel information and authorisation system will be proposed to close this gap.
Third, our information landscape is complex and fragmented.
Border guards and police officers cannot consult multiple EU systems at the same time.
Not all Member States are connected to all systems.
Information is stored separately in various un-connected systems.
This fragmentation makes us vulnerable.
To be useful, our data systems must be inter-operable and inter-connected.
The Entry Exit System we proposed in April is inter-connected and inter-operable with the Visa Information System.
We need a Single Search Interface that can search across our centralised databases – such as the Schengen Information System, the Visa Information System, and EURODAC.
What we want for the future, is to have a common repository of data for different information systems, which will contain all the basic data.
Other, more thematic systems, such as the Visa Information System, will be connected to it – with all necessary safeguards for the protection of personal data.
All this is not to say that information sharing should improve at the expense of fundamental rights: freedom and security are two sides of the same coin – you cannot have freedom without security.
We are now in the final stages of establishing an expert group to look at different options on interoperability.
The group will meet this month for the first time, and will work to give us policy input for decisions next year.
We have already invited the LIBE committee to work with the experts in this process.
Our expert group will work in coordination with the interoperability roadmap of the Council.
Let me close by saying that will be our clear priority in the next 12 months.
We will continue to put emphasis on implementation.
And where there are structural information gaps, we will address them decisively, and with a clear vision to improve the security of our citizens.