Press Release: EDPS Opinion on the proposal for granting access to the VIS database for authorities in charge of internal security and for Europol

The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) on 20 January 2006 issued an Opinion on the proposal for a Council decision on access to the VIS database for combating terrorism and other serious criminal offences. Building upon the previously issued Opinion on the establishment of the VIS, the EDPS was now giving specific advice on access for a new purpose. The presented proposal was likely to be a precursor in the field of granting law enforcement authorities access to large scale information and identification systems and was important also in that context.

European Commission: PreLex: COM(2005) 600, Proposal for a Council Decision concerning access for consultation of the Visa Information System (VIS) by the authorities of Member States responsible for internal security and by Europol for the purposes of the prevention, detection and investigation of terrorist offences and of other serious criminal offences, 24.11.05 http://ec.europa.eu/prelex/detail_dossier.cfm?CL=en&ReqId=0&DocType=COM&DocYear=2005&DocNum=600

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