Visa Information System (VIS) and exchange of data between Member States on short-stay visas (VIS Regulation)

The Council adopted the following conclusions on the access to the VIS by Member State authorities responsible for internal security:

- it considers that in order to achieve fully the aim of improving internal security and the fight against terrorism which the Council assigned to the VIS in its conclusions of 19 February 2004, access, for the purpose of consultation, should be guaranteed to Member State authorities responsible for internal security in the course of their duties in relation to the prevention, detection and investigation of criminal offences, including terrorist acts and threats;

- it reiterates that any access to the VIS must be subject to strict compliance with the rules governing the protection of personal data;

- it invites the Commission to present as soon as possible, and by the end of 2005 at the latest, its proposal on the protection of personal data within the framework of Title VI of the TEU;

- it requests the Commission to present, at the same time, a proposal based on Title VI of the TEU aimed at guaranteeing Member State authorities responsible for internal security access to the VIS for the purpose of consultation in the course of their duties in relation to the prevention, detection and investigation of criminal offences, including terrorist acts and threats, with a view to its adoption within the same timeframe as of the Regulation on the VIS;

- it requests that, in the meantime, examination of the proposal for a Regulation on the visa information system (VIS) and the exchange of data between Member States on short-stay visas should continue;

- it will make every effort, together with the European Parliament, and with full respect for each institution's prerogatives, to adopt the proposal for a Regulation on the Visa Information System (VIS) and the exchange of data between Member States on short-stay visas within a timeframe enabling the VIS to be implemented in accordance with the timetable set by the Council in its conclusions of 19 February 2004.