The European Parliament and the Council today agreed on updated rules governing the EU’s Visa Information System. The database connects border guards at the EU’s external borders with member states' consulates across the world and provides authorities with information on applicants for short-stay Schengen visas.

S&D Group negotiator for the EU Visa Information System, Domènec Ruiz Devesa, said:

“With the updated rules that have been agreed today, we are introducing new tools to improve data exchange and information flows between Member State’s visa systems. But as is always the case with personal data, the S&D Group fought hard to protect fundamental rights and to ensure the rules fully respect the Charter of Fundamental Rights and existing data protection rules. In the negotiations we strengthened important safeguards on both the collection of data and access to data by law enforcement authorities. In particular in the collection of children’s data at the EU’s border, we have put in place essential safeguards to respect the best interests of the child.”