Today, European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Dimitris Avramopoulos, and European Commissioner for Transport, Violeta Bulc, hosted a delegation from the United States in Brussels, led by Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke, to discuss issues related to aviation security and safety. 

At the meeting, both sides exchanged information on the serious evolving threats to aviation security and approaches to confronting such threats. Participants provided insight into existing aviation security standards and detection capabilities as well as recent security enhancements on both sides of the Atlantic related to large electronic devices placed in checked baggage.

The United States and the European Union reaffirmed their commitment to continue working closely together on aviation security generally, including meeting next week in Washington D.C. to further assess shared risks and solutions for protecting airline passengers, whilst ensuring the smooth functioning of global air travel.

The European Commission’s seventh progress report on the headway made towards an effective and genuine Security Union, launched on 16 May, focuses on the ongoing work to improve information management for borders and security. Further to this, it sets out the Commission’s new approach towards achieving the interoperability of EU information systems for security, border and migration management by 2020. The proposed approach would overcome the current weakness in the EU’s data management architecture eliminating blind spots.

The EU Agency responsible for information system management, eu-LISA, would play a crucial role in providing technical expertise and bringing the work towards the interoperability of information systems forward. In order to allow eu-LISA to implement this new approach, the Commission will present a legislative proposal to strengthen the Agency’s mandate in June 2017.

Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos said: “The value of our security information is maximised when our systems talk to each other. The complex and fragmented systems we have today make us vulnerable. Actionable information is not always available for the law enforcement officials that need it. Today, we present a clear vision on how to act to correct this. To connect the dots and to eliminate blind spots to step up the security of our citizens across the EU.”

Commissioner for the Security Union Julian King said: “The recent tragic attacks in Europe have highlighted the importance of effective information sharing between Member State authorities. The approach we are outlining today sets out a targeted and intelligent way of using the existing data to best effect. What we propose would be a step-change in the way we manage data for security, helping national authorities better addressing transnational threats and detecting terrorists who act across borders.”

According to the Executive Director of eu-LISA Krum Garkov eu-LISA has the knowledge and readiness to provide its expertise and fully contribute to achieving the objectives set out in the approach.

Background

In April 2016, the Commission presented a Communication on stronger and smarter information systems for borders and security and launched the work of the High-Level Expert Group on Information Systems and Interoperability. The High-Level Expert Group delivered its final report on 11 May confirming the views expressed in the April 2016 Communication, and putting forward recommendations towards the interoperability of information systems. The seventh progress report of EC takes stock of the recommendations of the High-Level Expert Group, and proposes the way forward to address structural shortcomings under the three main areas:

1. maximising the utility of existing information systems;

2. where necessary, developing complementary systems to close information gaps; and

3. ensuring interoperability between our systems.

For More Information

Contact:

e-mail: press@eulisa.europa.eu

mob: +372 588 78 668

for general information: info@eulisa.europa.eu

The visit of the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, to the European Parliament, one week after we celebrated together in New York the European Day, shows how deep the links and how strong the common work between the United Nations and the European Union are. Antonio Guterres delivered a powerful speech on the value of multilateralism and recognised the indispensable contribution the European Union is bringing to it. 

In his words, the EU is playing a crucial role on the world stage when it comes to peace and security, development, humanitarian aid, climate change, human rights. The European Union and the United Nations cooperate on many crises from Syria to Libya, from Somalia to the Central African Republic, to Afghanistan. I will welcome the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations Amina Mohammed at our Foreign Affairs Council (Development) on Friday in Brussels to work together on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. 

Antonio Guterres paid tribute to the European Union as a vital pillar of a functioning multilateral system, based on cooperation rather than confrontation, and rules that are a guarantee for all in this globalised world. 

 As EU, we will continue to be a strong and reliable partner for the United Nations, to bring peace and security, promote development and build together a more just and cooperative world order.

The European Commission’s seventh progress report on the headway made towards an effective and genuine Security Union, launched on 16 May, focuses on the ongoing work to improve information management for borders and security. Further to this, it sets out the Commission’s new approach towards achieving the interoperability of EU information systems for security, border and migration management by 2020. The proposed approach would overcome the current weakness in the EU’s data management architecture eliminating blind spots.

The EU Agency responsible for information system management, eu-LISA, would play a crucial role in providing technical expertise and bringing the work towards the interoperability of information systems forward. In order to allow eu-LISA to implement this new approach, the Commission will present a legislative proposal to strengthen the Agency’s mandate in June 2017.

Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos said: “The value of our security information is maximised when our systems talk to each other. The complex and fragmented systems we have today make us vulnerable. Actionable information is not always available for the law enforcement officials that need it. Today, we present a clear vision on how to act to correct this. To connect the dots and to eliminate blind spots to step up the security of our citizens across the EU.”

Commissioner for the Security Union Julian King said: “The recent tragic attacks in Europe have highlighted the importance of effective information sharing between Member State authorities. The approach we are outlining today sets out a targeted and intelligent way of using the existing data to best effect. What we propose would be a step-change in the way we manage data for security, helping national authorities better addressing transnational threats and detecting terrorists who act across borders.”

According to the Executive Director of eu-LISA Krum Garkov eu-LISA has the knowledge and readiness to provide its expertise and fully contribute to achieving the objectives set out in the approach.

Background

In April 2016, the Commission presented a Communication on stronger and smarter information systems for borders and security and launched the work of the High-Level Expert Group on Information Systems and Interoperability. The High-Level Expert Group delivered its final report on 11 May confirming the views expressed in the April 2016 Communication, and putting forward recommendations towards the interoperability of information systems. The seventh progress report of EC takes stock of the recommendations of the High-Level Expert Group, and proposes the way forward to address structural shortcomings under the three main areas:

1. maximising the utility of existing information systems;

2. where necessary, developing complementary systems to close information gaps; and

3. ensuring interoperability between our systems.

For More Information

Contact:

e-mail: press@eulisa.europa.eu

mob: +372 588 78 668

for general information: info@eulisa.europa.eu

MEPs welcomed the unity of the 27 Member States and the EU institutions with regard to Brexit and also called for a reform of the EU to benefit all its citizens.

The President of the European Council Donald Tusk presented to MEPs the Guidelines for Brexit negotiations agreed by the Member States at the summit on 29 April. He welcomed the alignment with the ‘red lines’ set by the European Parliament. The detailed negotiating mandate will be presented for adoption at a European Council summit on 22nd May, pointed out the President of the Commission Jean-Claude Juncker.

In line with negotiator Michel Barnier, most MEPs emphasised the unity between the EU institutions and the 27 Member States, who are determined to act together to reach a balanced agreement with the United Kingdom.

The debated focussed on the basis for future negotiations, as recalled by Michel Barnier:

• no negotiations on the future relationship between the EU and the United Kingdom can take place before “tangible progress” is made,

• guaranteeing the rights of European citizens affected by the UK’s decision to leave the EU,

• the Northern Ireland peace process must be upheld (including the absence of physical border between Ireland and Northern Ireland),

• the United Kingdom must respect all the financial commitments made as a Member State.

Michel Barnier stressed the need for transparent negotiations, which will begin after the UK national election on 8 June.

MEPs underlined the importance of unity and trust so that, in parallel to negotiations being carried out for an ‘orderly withdrawal’ of the UK, the reform of the Union can take place to rapidly respond to citizens’ concerns and make the benefits of European integration much more visible.

The vote in the UK for Brexit and the rise in populism in some countries, in particular in France and the Netherlands, should be a lesson to European leaders, said many MEPs. Whilst the victories of pro-European parties was welcomed, several MEPs urged not to pat ourselves too much on the back; “populism and nationalism are not dead”. More than ever, it is vital to listen to citizens and respond to their expectations in defining the future of the EU: social and environmental norms in a globalised world, organisation of the job market in the face of technological challenges, taxation and the security of European citizens must all be taken into account, said MEPs.

Replay links:

Donald TUSK, for the Council

Jean-Claude JUNCKER, for the Commission

Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE)

Roberto GUALTIERI (S&D, IT)

Raffaele FITTO (ECR, IT)

Guy VERHOFSTADT (ALDE, BE)

Gabriele ZIMMER (GUE/NGL, DE)

Philippe LAMBERTS (Greens/EFA, BE)

Nigel FARAGE (EFDD, UK)

Marcel de GRAAFF (ENF, NL)

Closing statements:

Michel BARNIER (part 1)

Michel BARNIER (part 2)

Donald TUSK

#euco #Brexit @eucopresident