College meeting: Security Union, Autumn Package, Malta
The Commission proposes a European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), reports on progress made towards Security Union and presents the European Semester Autumn Package to ensure a stronger and more inclusive economic recovery. The Commission also received the government of Malta.
Security Union: A European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS)
The Commission has today proposed a European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) to strengthen security checks on visa-free travellers.
The ETIAS authorisation is not a visa. Nationals of visa liberalisation countries will still be able to travel without a visa but will have to obtain a simple travel authorisation prior to their travel to the Schengen Area. This will help identify persons who may pose an irregular migration or security risk before they arrive at the border and enhance the security of the external borders.
The key functions of ETIAS will be:
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-Verification of information submitted prior to travel by visa-exempt third country nationals (such as information related to identity, travel document, residence information, contact details etc.);
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-Automatic processing of applications against EU i databases and a dedicated ETIAS watch list, and screening to determine if there are reasonable grounds to issue or refuse a travel authorisation;
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-Issuing of travel authorisations in cases where no hits or elements requiring further analysis are identified, within minutes of the application being submitted.
The Commission has also presented today its second monthly report on progress towards an effective and sustainable Security Union. In line with the calls made by the Bratislava roadmap and the October European Council conclusions, important steps over the past month include the launch of the European Border and Coast Guard on 6 October, in-depth discussions about the Radicalisation Awareness Network and today's proposal for a European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). Looking ahead, the report highlights the urgent need for the European Parliament and the Council to reach agreement on the Commission proposals on the revision of the Firearms Directive, the Directive on Combatting Terrorism and on the establishment of systematic checks of all persons crossing the external borders of the EU.
Security has been a constant theme since the beginning of the Juncker Commission's mandate - from President Juncker's Political Guidelines of July 2014, to the latest State of the Union address in September 2016. In his speech, President Juncker announced that by November the Commission will propose a European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) - an automated system to determine who will be allowed to travel to Europe. The Commission's proposal to establish this system is a first deliverable of the priorities for action identified in the Bratislava Roadmap.
European Semester: Autumn package
The European Commission presented today the European Semester Autumn package which sets out economic and social priorities for the EU, the euro area and the Member States' levels for the year ahead. This package marks the start of the European Semester 2017 and will be discussed with the other EU institutions and stakeholders to set the scene for the coming year. Once agreed, this guidance should be reflected in the Member States' policies, in particular in their national programmes to be presented next spring. More concretely the package includes:
For more information, please see here.
Visit of the Maltese government to the Commission
Today, the Commission also received the Prime Minister and the Government of Malta ahead of its forthcoming EU Presidency of the Council in the first semester of 2017. Prime Minister Muscat set out the priorities of the Maltese Presidency, which will be migration, the Mediterranean and the maritime sector, and security. The College and the Maltese Government also discussed amongst other topics the Commission's 2017 Work Programme, the European Semester, European defence cooperation and fiscal and social policies.