MEPs demand explanations for yet more delays to the roll-out of the Schengen Area's new crime information exchange system.

Finally a more secure Schengen Area?

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/16135504/n001-121119-001-en.srt

In a Europe without borders, preventing the  infiltration of criminals from beyond them

is one of the most pressing tasks  members face.

The answer, for the majority in  or about to join the Schengen area,

is a second-generation police information  exchange system, known as SIS II,

due to have been introduced in two months  after years of delays.

The SIS, Schengen Information System,  is the most important tool

because it shares information between  all the border police in the Schengen area.

And with the second generation, the SIS II,  we will have more weapons.

The system allows  police and border services

to access and exchange a vast amount of  information on criminals and crime

Among many functions, it’s designed to  help apprehend criminals,

and human trafficking and  trace missing children.

Personal data protection  has also been upgraded.

But it’s only as strong as its weakest link

and after rigorous tests one Member State,  Finland, has declared it isn’t yet ready.

If one Member State  is not able to pass these tests,

the whole European Union will not be able  to benefit from this new system.

And that is our concern  after many years of delays.

Ahead of a vote on the roll-out of SIS II  at this week’s plenary session,

MEPs are calling on the Commission  and Council to account for themselves.

They fear the deadline  will slip by another six months.

With the delays, costs have spiralled up  from the €114 million originally earmarked.

Members will also vote on extending access  to some of the data held by SIS II

to the two EU states which opted out of  Schengen, Ireland and the UK.