During the EP plenary session (23-26 October) in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the introduction of an electronic entry/exit system to replace manual passport checks at the Schengen area’s external borders. The new system will register various data on incoming persons from countries outside the EU, admitted for a short stay of 90 days, and share the information with all external border control points to stop illegal entry and track over-stays. Statements by Agustín DÍAZ DE MERA GARCÍA CONSUEGRA (EPP, ES), Dimitris AVRAMOPOULOS, Member of the EC in charge of Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Barbara KUDRYCKA (EPP, PL), Tanja FAJON (S&D, SI) and Angelika MLINAR (ALDE, AT).

Strasbourg

Schengen reform package (T)

DÍAZ DE MERA GARCÍA CONSUEGRA, Agustín (EPP, ES)

FAJON, Tanja (S&D, SI)

AVRAMOPOULOS, Dimitris (EL, EC)

MLINAR, Angelika (ALDE, AT)

KUDRYCKA, Barbara (EPP, PL)

ANDERSEN, Bent Hindrup (EDD, DK)

THOMSEN, Britta (S&D, DK)

Entry/Exit System: extracts from the joint debate and statement by Agustín DÍAZ DE MERA GARCÍA CONSUEGRA (EPP, ES), rapporteur and illustrative footage

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Agust&#237;n D&#205;AZ DE MERA GARC&#205;A CONSUEGRA (EPP, ES), The fundamental objectives of this system can be resumed like the following: to enter much quicker and safer. The goal is to get rid of the old system of stamping passports, because we need get easier entrance procedures into the EU and at the same time we need avoid that people who enter legally, get a permit to stay but continue to stay illegally. This need integrated border system would detect those problems to avoid illicit or illegal stay in the EU.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Agust&#237;n D&#205;AZ DE MERA GARC&#205;A CONSUEGRA (EPP, ES), The use of facial recognition with 4 references and the encrypted references from the passport will be integrated in the system to avoid the falsification of travel documents.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Agust&#237;n D&#205;AZ DE MERA GARC&#205;A CONSUEGRA (EPP, ES), One of the modalities is that the Security enforcement authorities could intervene, that is an enormous guarantee, because this system is inter-connected with VIS, Visa Information System, and this cross-checking of information and data could allow to send out alerts or there could be in consequence that action are facilitated and conducted such as in the case of the terrorism attack during the Christmas market in Berlin. When the attack took place the system could have provided the information that the terrorist had used 15 different. With this new entry-exit system this would be impossible or much more difficult, this is one supplementary component that adds security to the European citizens.

SOUNDBITE (English), Dimitris AVRAMOPOULOS, Member of the EC in charge of Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Its overall objectives are to improve the management of external borders, to prevent irregular migration and to facilitate the management of migration flows.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Barbara KUDRYCKA (EPP, PL), It is very important step forward, this entry-exit will allow access to visa data bases, this will allow us not to double information and create unnecessary work, and this will make border crossing procedures shorter and efficient

SOUNDBITE (Slovenian), Tanja FAJON (S&amp;D, SI), I hope that the aim of this would not be management of the borders which will actually make it easier to pass those borders and I hope they are intended finally to combat terrorism. Our exchange was mainly based on the idea that anyone passing through Europe was a potential terrorist or criminal and that was what we discussed an awful lot despite these difficult circumstances S+D avoid the worst in this text. And we managed to avoid demarcation of the different groups coming through, to reduce waiting time and also to bring down costs.

SOUNDBITE (English), Angelika MLINAR (ALDE, AT), This legislation has big impact on the fundamental rights of 3rd country Nationals travelling to Europe, especially when it comes to the extensive data retention period. I believe that we should be very careful when designing a system with such a broad scope, we are legislators should make sure that the fundamental rights aquis is respected without relying on the ex-post check of the Court of Justice, which I believe will come back negative in this case.

Illustration of border checks, (10 shots)