Joint Statement by Julian King, Commissioner for the Security Union and Marco Minniti, Italian Minister of Interior - Main contents

Interior Minister Marco Minniti received today, Friday March 17, Sir Julian King i, European Commissioner for the Security Union.

Minister Minniti and Commissioner King agreed on the quick implementation of recent legislative initiatives aimed at strengthening the security of European citizens:

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  The modification of the Schengen Code, which will allow the systematic checks on all persons, including EU citizens, entering and exiting the Schengen common area.
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  The Directive on combatting terrorism, which aims to harmonise at European level some types of terrorism-related offences such as training and travel for terrorist purposes.
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  The PNR Directive making compulsory by the airlines the sharing of passenger data for all flights from third countries to the EU and vice versa.
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  The firearms Directive, which sets out the conditions under which private persons may lawfully acquire and possess guns or transfer them to another EU country.

Minister Minniti and Commissioner King have agreed on the need to improve the functioning and interoperability of existing IT systems, strengthening European cooperation to reinforce resilience of critical sectors and infrastructures against the cyber threat, the importance of preventing radicalisation across a multidisciplinary approach, the fight against online radicalisation, including reinforced cooperation with the private sector and the sharing of best practices and strategies developed at European level.

Minister Minniti and Commissioner King stressed the important role of the European Agency Europol in facilitating information exchange and operational cooperation in the fight against organised crime and terrorism.

Commissioner King thanked the Italian authorities for their efforts and investment in managing the migratory flows in the Mediterranean Sea and the control of external borders of the European Union.

STATEMENT/17/669