Progress towards Security Union - Main contents
The Commission today presented its first monthly progress report on the Security Union: good progress has been made but further efforts are still needed. The College also held an orientation debate on the coordination of social security systems.
First Report on progress towards an effective and sustainable Security Union
The Commission has presented the first in a series of monthly reports highlighting progress made in all major areas on security at EU i level, and identifying where more effortsare needed. The report, presented jointly by Commissioners Avramopoulos i and King i, covers the period from April to September 2016.
The European Agenda on Security,presented by the Commission in April 2015, is the basis for cooperation, trust and joint action over the next five years between EU institutions and agencies, and Member States. Its aim is to develop an effective and sustainable Security Union. Since the adoption of the Agenda significant progress has been made in its implementation. Moreover, in August 2016, President Juncker decided to assign the Security Union portfolio to an individual Commissioner, showing the importance the Commission has attached to stepping up its response to the terrorist threat.
The Commission is treating as a priority the full implementation and use of theexisting legislationand tools, and is addressing the remaining gaps and loopholes in order to overcome the existing fragmentation which terrorists and criminals have exploited.
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-Fully implementing the existing EU legislation
This first monthly report underlines the role and responsibility of Member States in fully implementing the existing EU legislation; such as the Prüm framework that lays down provisions under which EU Member States grant each other access to their automated DNA analysis files, automated fingerprint identification systems and vehicle registration data. The European Commission in September launched infringement procedures against Member States who have not yet fulfilled their legal obligations under the Prüm Decision.
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-Accelerating legislative work on Commission's proposals
The report also underlines the need to accelerate legislative work on security-related proposals presented by the Commission; notably on the revision of the Firearms Directive, and on the proposals tabled by the Commission to enhance security at the EU external borders, such as the systematic checks of EU citizens crossing the external borders and the EU Entry-Exit System.
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-Assisting Member States and using EU agencies
The Commission will continue assisting Member States notably in setting up their Passengers Information Units (PIUs) to help ensure that all Member States have their PIUs up and running by May 2018 at the latest, as foreseen in the EU PNR Directive. The Commission will make available an additional €70 million in EU funding as swiftly as possible.
The Commission will also take the necessary steps to enable the European Counter Terrorism Centre at Europol i to provide 24/7 support to Member States.
Coordination of social security systems:
In the context of the Commission's efforts to promote labour mobility, and to make sure that it takes place in a fair way and to combat the risks of abuse, the Commission today held a first orientation debate on the coordination of national social security systems. As part of the Commission work programme, the objective is to ensure that rules are clear, fair and enforceable in practice.
EU-Canada trade agreement (CETA)
The College also discussed the state of play regarding the signature, provisional application and conclusion of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between the EU and Canada (CETA). Work is ongoing to pave the way for the approval by the Council on 18 October of the relevant decisions, so that the agreement can be signed at the EU-Canada Summit on 27 October. The signature of CETA will be a landmark in EU trade policy, as this agreement stands out as the best and most progressive trade deal negotiated to date by the EU.