Sarah Ludford (ALDE). – Mr President, I also wish to thank the rapporteur, Mrs Roure. However I also regret very strongly the absence of the Council tonight, because I am afraid too many of us are preaching to the converted: it is the Council that we have to convert.

I want to add my voice to those who have emphasised how essential this measure is. That is why Parliament has been asking for it for many years. Now, however, in the era of all the EU databases such as the Visa Information System, the Schengen Information System, Eurodac and the whole question of access by law enforcement – the policy of interoperability – and, of course, the question of the transfer of data to third countries, including the air passenger data agreement, it is more vital than ever.

It is a great mistake to think that data protection somehow obstructs police and security work: it actually enhances the prospect of cooperation by increasing trust and confidence, including public confidence. So I believe Parliament will do everything it can to achieve this measure.

As the rapporteur on the Visa Information System, I see a triple package: the first-pillar regulation; the measure on access to the VIS for police and intelligence services; and this data protection framework decision. We have codecision on the first-pillar measure, so the message I want to send very strongly to the Council is that it needs to take account of that. I want the VIS to be on the statute book as soon as possible; but we need to have the other elements in place as well.