EU set to boost coordination of asylum measures

European Union member states may have to start informing each other and the European Commission of any measure they intend to take over asylum and immigration, according to a new proposal by the Commission.

The absence of border checks in the Schengen area and the development of common EU immigration and asylum policies have increased the need for an information exchange on national measures that member states are preparing to take and which can have an impact on other member states or the EU as a whole.

The proposal has been approved by the Commission but is still subject to the agreement of member states.

EU members would be obliged to communicate their national measures through a web-based network run by the Commission.

The Commission is proposing that national measures in these areas could be the object of an exchange of views between states to facilitate the identification of problems of common interest.

Addressing the press in Brussels, EU Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini said this mechanism would enhance trust among member states and facilitate, through mutual information, the adoption of coordinated approaches to solve questions of mutual interest.

On Wednesday, Malta added another important weapon to fight organised crime as the use of the Europol Information System was made available to it also.

The system allows the rapid reference and sharing of confidential information available to EU members and Europol. The police will now also be able to input data directly into the system. On its part, Europol can directly input data supplied by non-EU countries and third bodies.