Показалец 
 Назад 
 Напред 
 Пълен текст 
Процедура : 2018/0152A(COD)
Етапи на разглеждане в заседание
Етапи на разглеждане на документа : A8-0078/2019

Внесени текстове :

A8-0078/2019

Разисквания :

PV 12/03/2019 - 25
CRE 12/03/2019 - 25

Гласувания :

PV 13/03/2019 - 11.10
Обяснение на вота

Приети текстове :

P8_TA(2019)0174

Пълен протокол на разискванията
Вторник, 12 март 2019 г. - Страсбург Редактирана версия

25. Визова информационна система (разискване)
Видеозапис на изказванията
PV
MPphoto
 

  Πρόεδρος. – Το επόμενο σημείο στην ημερήσια διάταξη είναι η συζήτηση επί της εκθέσεως του κ. Carlos Coelho, εξ ονόματος της Επιτροπής Πολιτικών Ελευθεριών, Δικαιοσύνης και Εσωτερικών Υποθέσεων, επί της προτάσεως κανονισμιού του Ευρωπαϊκού Κοινοβουλίου και του Συμβουλίου για την τροποποίηση του κανονισμού (ΕΚ) αριθ. 767/2008, του κανονισμού (ΕΚ) αριθ. 810/2009, του κανονισμού (ΕΕ) 2017/2226, του κανονισμού (ΕΕ) 2016/399, του κανονισμού ΧΧ/2018 [Κανονισμός για τη Διαλειτουργικότητα] και της απόφασης 2004/512/ΕΚ, και για την κατάργηση της απόφασης του Συμβουλίου 2008/633/ΔΕΥ (COM(2018)0302 - C8-0185/2018 - 2018/0152(COD)) (A8-0078/2019).

 
  
MPphoto
 

  Carlos Coelho, Relator. – Senhor Presidente, Senhor Comissário, Senhor Ministro, Caros Colegas, não me canso de recordar que Schengen e a liberdade de circulação são o sucesso da integração europeia que os europeus mais prezam. Mas esta liberdade de circulação exige medidas que garantam a segurança das nossas fronteiras comuns e a cooperação entre as polícias dentro do nosso território. E também exige uma política comum de vistos, isto é, uma abordagem europeia para quem, de forma legal, atravessa as nossas fronteiras, seja para visitar, estudar ou trabalhar.

O sistema de informação sobre vistos, o VIS, é o exemplo mais visível desta política. Atualmente este sistema está limitado à entrada de turistas, os chamados vistos de curta duração. Só no ano de 2017 foram registados cerca de 16 milhões de vistos. Como é evidente, não são apenas turistas que entram em Schengen. Em 2017 entrou na União Europeia um milhão de trabalhadores, mais de 800 mil pessoas vieram juntar-se a familiares e mais de meio milhão veio estudar. Estas pessoas, apesar de beneficiarem também de livre circulação, não estão registadas em nenhuma base de dados europeia.

Mais preocupante ainda, cada Estado-Membro decide quais os controlos de segurança a que são sujeitos. Há ainda uma última categoria de pessoas, os grandes investidores, os chamados vistos Gold, que já são emitidos por 20 Estados-Membros. Também estes estão atualmente fora do VIS e sem estarem sujeitos a qualquer tipo de controlo de segurança, contra os outros sistemas de informação da União, como o Sistema de Informação de Schengen.

Com esta reforma do VIS pretendemos mudar isso. Aliás, esta reforma só fará sentido se os vistos de longa duração e autorizações de residência, onde se incluem os vistos Gold, passarem a estar registados no VIS. É por isso que vejo com surpresa e preocupação que o grupo S&D tenha mudado de ideias no último mês. Quando votámos este relatório em sede de comissão parlamentar apoiaram a medida, agora parecem querer seguir os Verdes e o GUE.

Caros Colegas, sejamos claros, a atual distinção entre vistos de curta duração e documentos de longa duração não faz qualquer sentido. Quem pretende um visto de entrada na União Europeia deve ser sujeito aos mesmos controlos de segurança por toda a Europa. Os turistas que nos visitam e que normalmente permanecem no nosso território por um período bem inferior a 90 dias são sujeitos a controlos de segurança europeus. Mas pessoas que decidem instalar-se de forma mais permanente do nosso território ou adquirir residência através de investimentos, estou a falar dos vistos Gold, não são sujeitas a controlos sequer remotamente semelhantes.

É por isso que, com esta reforma, pretendemos, em primeiro lugar, garantir que todos os vistos, seja de que duração forem, são precedidos automaticamente por controlos de segurança adequados, em pleno respeito dos direitos fundamentais, dos princípios da necessidade e da proporcionalidade, mas garantindo que um investidor russo, alvo de um mandado detenção europeu, não acaba com o visto Gold na Roménia.

Estes controlos serão feitos de forma sistemática e completa antes da emissão dos vistos. Qualquer nacional de um país terceiro será sujeito a 15 controlos de segurança contra sete sistemas de informação da União Europeia, antes mesmo de chegar a solo europeu. É justamente por razões de segurança que a Comissão das Liberdades Cívicas, da Justiça e dos Assuntos Internos deste Parlamento entendeu que deveriam ser recolhidas impressões digitais a partir dos seis anos de idade. Só assim podemos melhor proteger as nossas crianças, seja contra a fraude de identidade, o rapto ou tráfico. Todos os anos são traficadas 15 mil pessoas na Europa, das quais, pelo menos, três mil são crianças. Temos o dever de lutar contra este flagelo e através desta reforma estamos a fazê-lo.

Senhor Presidente, com este VIS reforçado vamos facilitar a emissão de vistos, prevenir o chamado visa shopping, a fraude de vistos e a imigração ilegal, vamos aumentar o escrutínio de vistos Gold e melhor proteger as nossas crianças. Enfim, damos mais um passo importante para um espaço de livre circulação com justiça e segurança. Damos mais um passo para uma verdadeira Europa dos cidadãos.

 
  
MPphoto
 

  Dimitris Avramopoulos, Member of the Commission. – Mr President, allow me to start by expressing my thanks to our rapporteur, Mr Coelho, and the shadow rapporteurs for the work done in the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs on the proposal we are discussing tonight.

We all know that every year, millions of non-EU nationals enter the European Union with a visa, be it for a short stay or for a longer period. Most of them are legitimate travellers who fulfil the entry and stay conditions on the territory of the Member States. The current Visa Information System (VIS) allows us to check at the external borders, and in the consulates around the world, that these conditions are fulfilled. There are, however, still some gaps that we need to close.

With the new Visa Information System, we will remove blind spots in our systems and give visa authorities and border guards the information they need to do their jobs properly. We cannot allow criminals and potential terrorists to enter Europe undetected. Europe, I have repeatedly said, is not a fortress, and will never become one but, at the same time, we need to know who is crossing our borders.

The Commission welcomes Parliament’s support on the key objectives of our proposal. Let me mention the most important ones.

Firstly, the interlinking of the VIS to the Entry/Exit System, ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System), the Schengen Information System and ECRIS (European Criminal Records Information System). This will help us to detect the use of multiple identities and to identify anyone posing a security risk.

Secondly, the closing of the information gap on long-stay visas and residence permits – which currently is information not shared at EU level – will allow guards and immigration authorities quickly to determine whether the documents presented to them are valid, and whether they are in the hands of persons entitled to have them. It will also allow national authorities not to legalise the presence of third-country nationals who do not fulfil basic security conditions for entry and stay in the European Union, such as persons with links to known terrorists or organised crime networks. This will close an important security gap.

Finally, the inclusion of copies of the visa applicant’s travel document in the VIS database is a measure which, together with authorisation for European Border and Coast Guard Agency staff to have access to the VIS, will facilitate the identification and readmission of undocumented irregular migrants. This will increase the efficiency of the European Union returns policy, notably in relation to third countries refusing to give us their cooperation.

In addition to this, to strengthen our capacity to prosecute and prevent crime, law-enforcement authorities and Europol will have better access to the Visa Information System for prevention, detection or investigation of terrorist offences or other serious crimes. Access to the VIS will also be opened to law-enforcement authorities for the purpose of searching or identifying missing or abducted persons and victims of trafficking. This access will always be subject to full respect for the European Union’s data protection rules.

The VIS upgrade is part of the Smart Borders package and also part of interoperability. For that reason, the rationale and foundations of this proposal should be preserved throughout the legislative process. That is why I would like to refer to some changes proposed in the report.

Firstly, the inclusion of information on residence permits in the VIS is linked also to the issue of golden visas. While registering all permits issued by Member States in a single EU information system might not resolve the question of possible abuse in granting such permits, it provides greater transparency among Member States. I understand that Parliament wants to take this measure one step further and enable the storage and verification of these documents in the VIS from the moment of application, in order to ensure better control over the issuing process. We are looking positively at this proposal.

Secondly, regarding multiple queries for security and irregular migration checks, the benefits of interoperability should not be watered down by excluding some databases from searches. We managed to agree that ECRIS and the travel documents associated with notices are relevant in ETIAS, and that should be the relevant standard for the VIS as well. It is a matter of coherence and consistency. The standards of verification of third-country nationals who can enter the EU visa free should not be tougher than those applied to third-country nationals under visa obligations.

Thirdly, the Commission proposed to update the existing law-enforcement access rules for the VIS. But it is important to ensure that law-enforcement access remains balanced and is not detrimental to the efficiency of the procedure. For instance, adding the obligation to consult Prüm databases first will make access more burdensome.

Fourthly, regarding the finger-printing of children, we have to be consistent. We have proposed lowering the age for finger-printing because we want to fight child trafficking more effectively. I am sure this is an objective that we all share. I understand that you are concerned about the fundamental rights of children and so are we.

Trafficking of children, abduction or smuggling is an abuse of fundamental rights. Statistics show that, annually, between 1 500 and 2 000 third-country national children under the age of 12 are victims of trafficking in the Schengen area, and between 3 200 and 4 250 aged between 12 and 17. Most of these children come from countries that are under visa obligation.

We need to make all possible efforts to tackle this issue. The lowering of the age of finger-printing provides us with a key tool for achieving concrete results.

I want to close with the most important point for our citizens. Fundamental rights will be, as always, at the heart of all our policies, including in the design of our information systems. All reports on the performance of the VIS indicate that its implementation has never led to fundamental-rights or data-protection concerns. Not a single complaint has been registered against the VIS in its first five years of functioning.

We have taken the relevant provisions one step further following the ‘data protection by design’ principle. We stand ready to work with the co-legislators, during the trilogies, to improve those standards further, but we need to remain effective and not depart from our key objectives.

Thank you for your attention. I’m looking forward to our debate.

 
  
MPphoto
 

  Bernd Kölmel, Verfasser der Stellungnahme des mitberatenden Haushaltsausschusses. – Herr Präsident! Zunächst einmal möchte ich mich bei dem Berichterstatter für seine gute Arbeit bedanken. Der Haushaltsausschuss unterstützt die Aussagen des Berichterstatters vollumfänglich.

Die Sicherstellung von kompatiblen IT—Systemen ist heutzutage absolut notwendig. Gerade im Bereich von Grenzübertritten und im Bereich von Visa müssen diese Voraussetzungen gegeben sein, damit wir Mehrfachidentitäten und Identitätsbetrug bekämpfen können. Wir brauchen auch die Möglichkeit, die Identitäten einfacher feststellen zu können. Dies ist ein Beitrag, um Straftaten zu verhindern, insbesondere auch beim Kampf gegen Terrorismus. Hierfür sind Investitionen notwendig. Insgesamt sind nach den Berechnungen 461 Millionen Euro in neun Jahren zu investieren. Das ist ein hoher Betrag, aber ich bin überzeugt, dafür erhalten wir, erhalten die Bürger in der EU, eine bessere Sicherheit, und deshalb ist das gut investiertes Geld.

Wir müssen uns allerdings darüber im Klaren sein, dass nur für die Jahre 2019 und 2020 die hierfür erforderlichen Haushaltsmittel vorhanden sind. Im neuen mehrjährigen Finanzrahmen müssen diese Mittel erst noch vorgesehen werden, und deshalb plädiere ich dringend dafür, dass sich dieses Haus auch im Klaren darüber ist, dass, wenn man dieses Projekt angeht im nächsten Haushalt auch die erforderlichen Mittel bereitgestellt werden müssen, ansonsten schaffen wir einen Torso, und von dem hat natürlich niemand etwas.

 
  
MPphoto
 

  Емил Радев, от името на групата PPE. – Г-н Председател, уважаеми г-н Комисар, дами и господа, Визовата информационна система е важен елемент от рамката за сигурност в Европейския съюз, защото чрез нея компетентните служби могат да засекат истинността и валидността на издадените визи, позволяващи свободно движение в Шенгенското пространство. Фактът, че системата включва на този етап единствено краткосрочните визи, обаче, е пробойна в европейската сигурност.

Затова приветствам реформата, предложена от Европейската комисия миналата година, вследствие на която в системата ще бъде съхранявана информация за дългосрочни визи и за разрешителни за пребиваване в рамките на Европейския съюз. Тези документи също предоставят възможност за свободно движение в рамките на Шенген и е важно властите, борещите се с нелегалната миграция и осигуряващи сигурността на европейските граждани, да имат информация за валидността и истинността им.

Реформата на Визовата информационна система е и важен елемент от взаимносвързаността на информационните системи в сферата на сигурността в Европейския съюз. Крайно време е органите на сигурността да могат да се възползват от наличната информация в различните системи, естествено без да бъде компрометирана сигурността на личната информация и данните на гражданите.

Не на последно място, искам да отправя призив към Съвета по вътрешни работи да вземе най-накрая положително решение за незабавното присъединяване на България към Шенген, което ще позволи на страната ни активно да използва Визовата информационна система и по този начин да допринася за гарантиране на сигурността в Европа.

 
  
MPphoto
 

  Péter Niedermüller, a S&D képviselőcsoport nevében. – Tisztelt Elnök Úr! Mindenekelőtt szeretném megköszönni a jelentéstevő Coelho úrnak a nagyon konstruktív, nyitott és közös megoldásokat kereső együttműködésre épülő munkáját.

A vízumrendszer azt gondolom, nagyon fontos eleme a közös európai menekültügyi politikának. Ezen a területen különösen lényeges a közös fellépés, hiszen évente több millió Európai Unióba szóló vízum kiállítására kerül sor. A most javasolt reform elsődleges célja, hogy javítsa a vízumok kiadásával kapcsolatos releváns adatok cseréjét, megosztását a különböző uniós információs rendszerek között. Minderre pedig azért van szükség, mert napjaink biztonsági kihívásai közepette az eddigieknél jóval hatékonyabb működésre van szükség, és arra, hogy ennek a rendszernek a segítségével is erősíteni tudjuk az Európai Unió külső határainak védelmét.

A rendszer reformja során az én frakcióm számára különös fontossággal bírt az Unió alapjogi ügynökségének és az európai adatvédelmi biztosnak a véleménye, különös tekintettel a hosszú távú vízumokra, amelyekkel kapcsolatban mindkét jelentés hangsúlyozta a szükségesség és az arányosság elvének érvényesítését. Mivel a törvényjavaslat szorosan kapcsolódik az uniós információs rendszerek átjárhatóságához a bármely adatbázisban történő változás hatással van a harmadik országbeli állampolgárok adatainak kezelésére is. Ez pedig ismételten fölveti a korábban már említett szükségesség és arányosság kérdését, valamint a diszkrimináció esetleges lehetőségének szükségszerű kizárását. Azt gondolom, hogy végeredményben elfogadható kompromisszumot értünk el. A jelentés nem csorbítja az alapvető jogokat, miközben hozzájárul a biztonság növekedéséhez és növeléséhez, és ezzel elérte eredeti célját. Köszönöm, elnök úr.

 
  
MPphoto
 

  Helga Stevens, namens de ECR-Fractie. – Voorzitter, het Visum Informatie Systeem vergemakkelijkt de visumaanvraagprocedure en bestrijdt tegelijk visumfraude en illegale migratie. Grenswachten worden via het systeem verbonden met EU-consulaten over de hele wereld. Het verstrekt de autoriteiten die het visum afleveren essentiële informatie over de aanvragers, terwijl de grenswachten reizigers met slechte bedoelingen kunnen opsporen en tegenhouden.

Jaarlijks worden 16 miljoen Schengenvisa voor kort verblijf afgeleverd. Het belang van het systeem kan aldus niet onderschat worden.

Ik stem volmondig in met de praktische verbeteringen die dit voorstel naar voren schuift, van automatische kruiscontroles met andere databanken en toegang voor rechtshandhavingsautoriteiten, tot het opslaan van informatie die de terugkeer van illegalen moet vergemakkelijken. Elke hervorming die de gebreken van de huidige databank kan wegwerken, zodat het nog nuttiger en doeltreffend wordt, kan op onze steun rekenen.

De tekst die vandaag voorligt, lijkt ons een uitstekende startpositie om tijdens de volgende zittingsperiode de onderhandelingen met de Raad aan te vatten.

 
  
MPphoto
 

  Gérard Deprez, au nom du groupe ALDE. – Monsieur le Président, Monsieur le Commissaire, chers collègues, plus de 48 millions de demandes de visa et 41 millions d’empreintes digitales enregistrées. À la vérité, le système d’information sur les visas est déjà, dans son état actuel, un très bel outil, à la fois nécessaire et performant. Grâce aux propositions contenues dans le rapport de notre ami Carlos Coelho, que je veux féliciter pour la qualité de son travail, le système deviendra demain encore plus performant.

Nous soutenons l’inclusion dans le VIS, des visas de long séjour et des permis de résidence. À l’heure actuelle, les données relatives aux ressortissants de pays tiers en long séjour sur le territoire d’un État membre ne sont pas échangées. Les échanger permettra demain aux résidents de prouver facilement leur droit de séjour sur tout le territoire Schengen et d’introduire en outre un début de transparence dans l’octroi – je devrais dire la vente – de visas et de documents de long séjour.

Je soutiens et nous soutenons l’idée de faciliter l’accès des services répressifs et d’Europol aux données enregistrées dans le VIS. Je soutiens et nous soutenons la volonté d’enregistrer une copie du document de voyage du demandeur, afin de faciliter les procédures de retour. Je soutiens, même si ce point ne fait pas l’unanimité au sein de mon groupe, la volonté d’abaisser de 12 à 6 ans l’âge à partir duquel les empreintes digitales seront enregistrées dans le VIS, ce qui permettra un meilleur contrôle lors du franchissement d’une frontière extérieure et offrira une meilleure protection aux enfants. Je rappelle que, d’après les données disponibles, 40 % des enfants concernés par le trafic des êtres humains ont moins de 12 ans.

Je souligne, enfin, qu’en plus de la recherche automatique dans les bases de données, les demandes de visas seront analysées sur la base d’indicateurs de risque spécifiques fondés sur des statistiques et des informations fournies par les États membres, ce qui permettra d’éliminer les taux de refus anormaux ou le dépassement de la durée de séjour de certaines catégories de ressortissants de pays tiers. Carlos, je te félicite pour ton travail, qui mérite le soutien de notre Parlement.

 
  
MPphoto
 

  Marie-Christine Vergiat, au nom du groupe GUE/NGL. – Monsieur le Président, j’ai l’impression que je vais me sentir un peu seule.

Créé en 2004, entré en vigueur en 2014, le VIS (système d’information sur les visas), comme le code des visas, avait pour objectif de faciliter les visas. Depuis 2014, nous avons assisté à une regrettable évolution. En effet, il n’est plus question que de contrôle généralisé et de fichage systématique.

Je salue le travail de notre rapporteur, qui nous a permis de retirer quelques points parmi les plus problématiques, comme la TDAWN d’Interpol, qui permet à certains pays de rattraper leurs opposants en fuite, comme on l’a vu récemment dans le cas de Saoudiens. Cependant, nous refusons les indicateurs de risque qui mélangent sécurité, immigration irrégulière et risque sanitaire. Bonjour le principe de finalité! Nous refusons l’intégration des visas de long séjour, qui ne relève pas de la compétence de l’Union. Bonjour la subsidiarité! Nous sommes scandalisés par le relevé des empreintes digitales des enfants et surtout par son abaissement de 12 à 6 ans, quels que soient les motifs mis en avant. Bonjour la proportionnalité! Nous disons non à ce texte, comme à tout le paquet «Frontières». Nous refusons la logique du tout sécuritaire, du tous fichés aux coûts exorbitants. Un projet pour lequel l’argent coule à flots!

 
  
MPphoto
 

  Juan Fernando López Aguilar (S&D). – Señor presidente, comisario Avramopoulos, debatimos aquí en el Pleno del Parlamento Europeo el nuevo Sistema de Información de Visados. En qué consiste. Pues en permitir la conexión de los guardias de fronteras —de las fronteras exteriores de los Estados miembros de la Unión Europea— con los consulados de los Estados miembros en todo el mundo en modo que se pueda proporcionar en tiempo real información de los solicitantes de visados Schengen que puedan plantear riesgos para la seguridad —a través de comparaciones biométricas, huellas dactilares y sistemas de identificación y de verificación—.

De manera que hay que saludar esta iniciativa que responde a los desafíos de la seguridad en la Unión Europea y, en particular, permite la interconexión a través de las nuevas tecnologías y la interoperabilidad de los datos relativos a los solicitantes de visados y a las amenazas a la seguridad de los Estados miembros.

Desde el Grupo socialista hemos aportado garantías de respeto de los principios del Tratado de Lisboa de proporcionalidad y de necesidad y al mismo tiempo de garantía y de respeto de los derechos consagrados en la Carta de los Derechos Fundamentales de la Unión Europea y del Reglamento General de Protección de Datos.

Pero lo importante es que no sea exclusivamente en materia de seguridad que avancemos en la Unión Europea, sino que al mismo tiempo se ofrezca un sistema integral a los demandantes de asilo y refugio y a la administración de la Unión Europea.

 
  
MPphoto
 

  Andrejs Mamikins (S&D). – Mr President, I welcome the efforts to make visa applications and verifications more efficient, as well as the inclusion of long—stay visas and residence permits in the new regulation. However, as a member of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, I am concerned about the data processing and the impact it will have on privacy. The connection of the Visa Information System with other databases, through interoperability architecture, poses a risk of unlawful data transfer and data leaks.

Yes, by making information on visas more complete we can achieve better risk assessment but, at the same time, we are exposing sensitive data to major risks.

I believe that we must first make full use of the Visa Information System’s potential before we link it to other systems. Moreover, no European company is currently able to administer interoperability of information systems. So, shall we delegate this task to a Chinese or an Indian company? In such a case, I’m afraid our data security would be seriously jeopardised and we would achieve the opposite of what we want.

 
  
 

Διαδικασία «Catch-the-Eye»

 
  
MPphoto
 

  Νότης Μαριάς (ECR). – Κύριε Πρόεδρε, το σύστημα πληροφοριών για τις θεωρήσεις πραγματικά χρειάζεται αρκετές βελτιώσεις και νομίζω ότι τα μέτρα που λαμβάνονται σε αυτή την κατεύθυνση πραγματικά μπορούν να ανταποκριθούν στις ανάγκες. Όμως, κύριε Αβραμόπουλε, επιτρέψτε μου να σας θέσω ένα θέμα, γιατί φοβάμαι ότι σε λίγο όσοι ερχόμαστε με αεροπορικές πτήσεις από την Ελλάδα στο Βέλγιο θα χρειαζόμαστε βίζα. Σας είχα καταγγείλει το απαράδεκτο φαινόμενο της καραντίνας που είχαν επιβάλει στα γερμανικά αεροδρόμια, αλλά και στο αεροδρόμιο των Βρυξελλών, και είχα λάβει απάντηση στο θέμα αυτό από εσάς, στις 23 Νοεμβρίου ότι το είχατε βρει ότι ανταποκρίνεται στις προδιαγραφές.

Σας λέω, λοιπόν, ότι στις 19 Φεβρουαρίου και στις 5 Μαρτίου ξαναεπαναλήφθηκε αυτό το σύστημα καραντίνας και εκεί, στη μια περίπτωση, εμφανίστηκαν δήθεν αστυνομικοί, στην άλλη περίπτωση, εμφανίστηκαν δήθεν τελωνειακοί. Και εγώ, αλλά και ο κύριος Παπαδημούλης, που ήμασταν στην ίδια πτήση, και άλλοι ευρωβουλευτές είχαμε την δυσμενή τύχη - ατυχία αν θέλετε - να υποβληθούμε σε διαβατηριακό έλεγχο. Είναι νόμιμο αυτό; Μπορεί να συνεχίζεται αυτή η διαδικασία στο αεροδρόμιο των Βρυξελλών; Θέλουμε μια απάντηση, κύριε Επίτροπε. Να ληφθούν συγκεκριμένα μέτρα. Σε λίγο θα χρειαζόμαστε βίζα από την Ελλάδα και από τις Βρυξέλλες.

(Ο Πρόεδρος διακόπτει τον ομιλητή)

 
  
MPphoto
 

  Bill Etheridge (EFDD). – Mr President, this is a new, hugely ambitious, hugely expensive system for controlling people entering the EU, a visa scheme which will be in common use across the EU, disregarding the fact that different countries may have different requirements as to who enters their country – so a visa could be for a different place or perhaps for a different person. But it’s not just that. One of the things that has been pointed out was that this is about combating terrorism, yet most terrorism appears now to be carried out by so-called home-grown terrorists, of the second or third generation of people who’ve been here. The system is intended to control the number of people coming in, yet already we’ve had millions of people coming to the EU, many of them actually invited in. They’re already here.

This appears to be a high-tech, high-cost exercise in shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted.

 
  
 

(Λήξη της διαδικασίας «Catch-the-Eye»)

 
  
MPphoto
 

  Dimitris Avramopoulos, Member of the Commission. – Mr President, I welcome the fact that within the space of just one year we have managed to reach an agreement with the Council on eu-LISA, SIS, ETIAS and interoperability regulations. The Visa Information System (VIS), together with ETIAS and the entry-exit system, will form part of a single platform for third-country nationals visiting the European Union.

The VIS proposal will close the information gap on long-stay document holders, as well as a number of security gaps on both short and long-stay travellers. It is therefore extremely important that the systems are synchronised to the largest extent possible. I strongly believe that the Visa Information System should be swiftly agreed in the next legislature. I regret that this could not have already been done by now, but I hope we can start dialogues by the end of September.

We all remain committed here to delivering a Europe that protects and makes our citizens feel safe and secure. That is why I warmly encourage you to support the important elements of this legislation tomorrow in the vote, allowing us to close the existing security gaps and continue working towards building a safer Union for all our citizens. Let me now reply to my friend Mr Marias in Greek.

Αγαπητέ κύριε Μαριά, σήμερα συζητούμε εδώ ένα πάρα πολύ σημαντικό θέμα. Θα μου επιτρέψετε να σας πω ότι η ερώτησή σας δεν έχει καμία σχέση με αυτό το θέμα. Επειδή όμως, συμμερίζομαι την ευαισθησία σας, θα ήθελα να σας παρακαλέσω να μου στείλετε μία γραπτή ερώτηση. Θα φροντίσω να κάνω τις απαραίτητες ενέργειες να πληροφορηθώ και να σας απαντήσω.

 
  
MPphoto
 

  Carlos Coelho, Rapporteur. – Mr President, I would like to thank my colleagues for their contributions to the European People’s Party (EPP) and to myself. To keep the scope of the system is crucial. Without it, this reform loses much of its value. We will not be serving European citizens well if we take that out.

As citizens’ representatives, we have the obligation to defend their best interests and we are accountable before them for the votes that we cast in this House. It is true and evident that every opinion is legitimate, but rest assured, those who think that golden visas should not be subject to greater scrutiny and those who do not want to better protect children will have to explain their actions to their voters.

I would like to thank the shadow rapporteurs for their very constructive spirit. I also want to extend my gratitude to your staff, the Secretary of this House and the services of the European Commission. You have all been essential to this outcome.

 
  
MPphoto
 

  Πρόεδρος. – Η συζήτηση έληξε.

Η ψηφοφορία θα διεξαχθεί την Τετάρτη 13 Μαρτίου 2019.

Γραπτές δηλώσεις (άρθρο 162 του Κανονισμού)

 
  
MPphoto
 
 

  Claudia Țapardel (S&D), in writing. – As rapporteur for opinion in the Committee on Budgets for the dossier regarding the Visa Information System, I salute the need to improve EU security through strengthened visa procedures and residence permit applications. The Visa Information System has been established by the Council to serve as the technology solution to exchange visa data between Member States. It provides visa-issuing authorities with key information on applicants for short-stay Schengen visas.

However, in 2016, the Commission outlined the need for the EU to strengthen and improve its IT systems, data architecture and information exchange in the area of border management, law enforcement and counter-terrorism and emphasised the need to improve the interoperability of IT systems. It also identified the need to address information gaps on third-country nationals holding a long-stay visa. Nevertheless, I would also like to express my concern that we should firstly focus on strengthening the current Schengen area and its external borders. While Romania and Bulgaria have partial access to the Visa Information System in the Schengen area, the two states have to join Schengen as full members as soon as possible, which I am confident will bring a positive contribution to the overall security of the EU.

 
Последно осъвременяване: 8 юли 2019 г.Правна информация - Политика за поверителност