The new border control system, SIS II, failed an operational test in March. It is currently three years late and has cost taxpayers 90 million euros. Which power option should Bulgaria choose to replace nuclear fuel? Tachographs monitor truckers’ rest and

The News: Border Control -  Nuclear Decommissioning – Tracking the Truckers

The new Schengen border control system   is bugged by computer problems

and is still not operational.   MEPs now want guarantees.

The decommissioning of four Bulgarian   reactors needs an extra 300 million euros.

He'll talk to us about   the Union for the Mediterranean summit.

Free movement is an everyday reality   for most citizens in the Schengen area.

But the new IT system to control   people and goods is still not operational.

SIS II is three years   behind schedule,

the second generation   Schengen Information System.

It's aim is to maintain high security levels   at the EU's borders

through improved cooperation   between states.

The system should have been operational   since 2007 and we’re already in 2010.

But it's not finalised and   the Commission's mandate is due to end.

MEPs had no other option than to extend   the Commission's mandate

in order to migrate from   the current to the future system.

They've also referred   the project to the Court of Auditors.

90 million euros has been spent on   this project and there’s no end in sight.

This concerns most of the members   because it’s tax payers’ money.

Customs and police forces   in the Schengen area

who will have access to   the new exchange system

will also have access to biometric data.

In the meantime, MEPs want   to set up an expert committee

with the aim of ensuring   the proper running of SIS II.

Unfortunately, the system failed   the tests held in March.

Almost all the countries that were   involved in this test said it was not good.

But the Commission said it’s good,   everybody is happy with the system.

No-one is sure if and when   a new test will be organised.

The only certainty is that SIS II   will not be operational this year.

It's a good instrument   to reinforce security

and to give the police   the information they now lack.

I hope it’ll be operational   as soon as possible.

It was one of the conditions for   Bulgaria's entry to the EU.

It had to close four nuclear   reactors at the Kosloduy plant,

the most dangerous plant   after Chernobyl.

The plant is no longer in operation   but it must still be decommissioned.

An extra 300 million euros is needed.   Arnaud Demolder reports.

Kosloduy, Bulgaria: one of the most   dangerous nuclear reactors in the world.

In 2004, to join the EU, Bulgaria   had to close four reactors at this site.

The model in use resembled that in   Chernobyl which exploded in 1986.

Bulgaria stuck to its word,   but decommissioning is not so simple.

The EU has set aside an extra 300 million   euros for this but not without conditions.

We must be intransigent   regarding transparency

The Commission has been dissatisfied   with the information on decommissioning

180 million euros will be given for   decommissioning up to 2013.

The remainder, 120 million euros,   will be set aside to build new power plants

using fossil fuels   and not renewable energy.

I’m against the idea of 120 million euros

being used to finance   new plants using coal or lignite.

The amount of additional funding cannot   compensate the billions of euros lost

due to the premature   closure of four units.

Nuclear power plants   in Lithuania and Slovakia

For these former Eastern Bloc countries   the EU must show its solidarity.

The Union for the Mediterranean   is finally coming out of limbo.

Today I met Vincent Peillon,   a French Socialist MEP.

His report on the Mediterranean Union's   future has just been adopted.

Your report on the Mediterranean Union   has just been adopted.

The MU has taken a long time   to get off its feet since 2008.

The project was paralysed by   the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The latest news is that these two sides   have agreed to sit together on

Was that critical to the project's relaunch?

We'll see if the leaders who are   scheduled to meet in Barcelona in June

will have the strength   and courage to relaunch it.

For its part the EP   has assumed its responsibilities.

It has clearly said   that Europe needs the South.

We need it as we're going through   a crisis and we need its markets.

There are geostrategic, environmental   and demographic interests at stake.

We have to work with the South to   resolve issues and ensure our future.

The Parliament has expressed   its political will to leaders.

They've been out of touch with reality.   Let's hope that's not the case this time.

Everything still needs to be done to   organise the running of the MU.

There's a high-level summit in June   to reinvigorate the process.

What concrete decisions   are you expecting?

Firstly, a political affirmation   that we're heading in the right direction.

Secondly, to overcome   certain obstacles.

Thirdly, significant financial commitments

as we can't carry out the major projects   without putting money on the table.

like the solar energy plan that some say   will only generate electricity for the South.

Not at all, Europe   will also receive electricity.

The Secretariat-General must be set up   so it can function properly.

Private partners   must be brought on board.

They won't support   it if they sense hesitancy.

Isn't it a new bureaucratic contraption?

It's like the EU   or other major projects.