EURODAC fingerprints database will help fight illegal immigration and crime

Today, December 17 2012, the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) of the European Parliament adopted the EURODAC report drafted by Monica Macovei MEP, European Parliament Rapporteur, with 41 votes for, 11 against and 4 abstentions. The vote was preceded by negotiations on amendments proposed by political groups.

The main novelty lies in the ability to request comparison of fingerprints found at a crime scene with the fingerprints stored in the EURODAC database. Safeguards for data protection are included. This provision has been strongly supported by the EPP Group.

The EURODAC database contains fingerprints of asylum seekers in the EU, persons who illegally crossed the borders of the EU or have been caught illegally on the territory of a Member State. By comparing fingerprints, a Member State may determine if an asylum seeker, a person caught crossing the EU border illegally or a person caught illegally on the territory of an EU Member State, applied for asylum in another Member State.

Today's vote gives Macovei the green light for trialogue discussions with the Council and the Commission during which the final version of the text will be discussed. The first trialogue is scheduled for tomorrow, December 18 2012.