CELEX: 52018PC0826
Language: en
Date: 2018-12-13
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the conclusion of a Protocol between the European Union, the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway to the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway concerning the criteria and mechanisms for establishing the State responsible for examining a request for asylum lodged in a Member State or in Iceland or Norway regarding the access to Eurodac for law enforcement purposes

EUROPEAN COMMISSION
            Brussels, 13.12.2018
            COM(2018) 826 final
            2018/0419(NLE)
            Proposal for a
            COUNCIL DECISION
            on the conclusion of a Protocol between the European Union, the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway to the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway concerning the criteria and mechanisms for establishing the State responsible for examining a request for asylum lodged in a Member State or in Iceland or Norway regarding the access to Eurodac for law enforcement purposes
            
               
         
         
            
               EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
            
            
               1.CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL
            
            
               •Reasons for and objectives of the proposal
            
            
               The Regulation (EU) No. 603/2013
                  1
                that recasts Regulation No 2725/2000 of 11 December 2000 concerning the establishment of ‘Eurodac’ for the comparison of fingerprints for the effective application of the Dublin Convention was adopted and entered into force on 19 July 2013. The Regulation is applicable since 20 July 2015.
            
            
               The Regulation (EU) No. 603/2013 allows, inter alia, for the consultation of Eurodac by law enforcement authorities for the purpose of prevention, detection and investigation of terrorist offences and other serious criminal offences. This aims at enabling law enforcement authorities to request the comparison of fingerprint data with those stored in the Eurodac central database when they seek to establish the exact identity of or obtain further information concerning a person who is suspected of a terrorism or serious crime. 
            
            
               On 19 January 2001, the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway concerning the criteria and mechanisms for establishing the State responsible for examining a request for asylum lodged in a Member State or in Iceland or Norway (hereinafter: Agreement of 19 January 2001) was concluded
                  2
               . 
            
            
               Iceland and Norway apply the asylum elements of the Regulation (EU) No. 603/2013 in line with the Agreement of 19 January 2001. However, the law enforcement access to Eurodac falls outside the scope of the said Agreement. 
            
            
               At a meeting on 14 May 2014 with representatives from the Commission, Denmark, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland confirmed their interest in entering into negotiations with the European Union to extend the law enforcement provisions of the Regulation (EU) No. 603/2013 to them via an international agreement. 
            
            
               On 14 December 2015, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations on agreement between the European Union, on the one part, and, inter alia, Iceland and Norway, on the other part, on the modalities of the participation by Iceland and Norway to the procedure for comparison and data transmission for law enforcement purposes foreseen in chapter VI of the Regulation (EU) No 603/2013 on the establishment of 'Eurodac' for the comparison of fingerprints for the effective application of Regulation (EU) No 604/2013 establishing the criteria and mechanisms for determining the Member State responsible for examining an application for international protection lodged in one of the Member States by a third-country national or a stateless person and on requests for the comparison with Eurodac data by Member States' law enforcement authorities and Europol for law enforcement purposes.
            
            
               The negotiations have been finalised and an Agreement in the form of a Protocol to the Agreement of 19 January 2001, extending the application of the Agreement of 19 January 2001 to law enforcement was initialled. 
            
            
               The extension of the law enforcement provisions of the Regulation (EU) No. 603/2013 to Iceland and Norway would enable the law enforcement authorities of Iceland and Norway to request a comparison of fingerprint data against the data entered by other participating States and stored in the Eurodac database when they seek to establish the identity or get further information concerning a person who is suspected of a serious crime or terrorism or concerning a victim. On the other hand, it would enable the law enforcement authorities of all other participating States, whether other EU Member States or Associates Countries, to request a comparison of fingerprint data against the data entered by Iceland and Norway and stored in the Eurodac database, for the same purposes. 
            
            
               The objective of the present Protocol is to establish legally binding rights and obligations to ensure the effective participation of Iceland and Norway in the law enforcement elements of the Regulation (EU) No. 603/2013. The Protocol establishes that all participating States, whether other EU Member States, Associates Countries or Iceland and Norway, with access to Eurodac, may also access each other's data for law enforcement purposes.
            
            
               •Consistency with existing policy provisions in the policy area
            
            
               The proposal is consistent with EU policies regarding access to Eurodac database
            
            
               •Consistency with other Union policies
            
            
               The proposal is consistent with the EU policies in the area of freedom, security and justice.   
            
            
               2.LEGAL BASIS, SUBSIDIARITY AND PROPORTIONALITY
            
            
               •Legal basis
            
            
               The legal basis for this proposal for a Council Decision is Article 87(2)(a), Article 88(2)(a) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), in conjunction with Article 218(6)(a) of the TFEU. 
            
         
         
            
               •Subsidiarity (for non-exclusive competence) 
            
            
               The Agreement of 19 January 2001 is an existing international agreement concluded by the EU and Iceland and Norway. In accordance with the principle of subsidiarity set out in Article 5 TEU, the objectives of the Protocol to this Agreement can only be achieved through a proposal from the Commission at EU level.
            
            
               •Proportionality
            
            
               
                  The proposal complies with the proportionality principle because it does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve the objectives of the effective participation of Iceland and Norway in the law enforcement elements of the Eurodac Regulation (EU) No. 603/2013. 
               
            
            
               •Choice of the instrument
            
            
               A Decision of the Council on the conclusion of the Agreement is required under Article 218(6) TFEU
            
            
               3.RESULTS OF EX-POST EVALUATIONS, STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS
            
            
               •Stakeholder consultations
            
            
               
                  The Council (Asylum Working Party) has been consulted on the content and advancement of the negotiations. The European Parliament (LIBE Committee) has been informed. 
               
            
            
               4.OTHER ELEMENTS
            
            
               •Detailed explanation of the specific provisions of the proposal
            
            
               
                  The proposal sets out a decision authorising the conclusion of the Protocol between the EU and Iceland and Norway on behalf of the European Union. The TFEU foresees for the Council to adopt a Commission proposal for a decision to authorise the signature and conclusion of an international agreement.
               
               
                  The Protocol establishes the application of Regulation (EU) No 603/2013 to Iceland and Norway regarding access to Eurodac for law enforcement purposes. Therefore it enables the designated law enforcement authorities of the other participating States and Europol to request a comparison of fingerprint data against the data transmitted to the Eurodac Central System by Iceland and Norway. It also enables the designated law enforcement authorities of Iceland and Norway to request a comparison of fingerprint data against the data transmitted to the Eurodac Central System by the other participating States.
               
               
                  The Protocol guarantees that the current EU level of protection of personal data is applicable to the processing of personal data pursuant to the Protocol by the authorities of Iceland and Norway and of the Member States. Such processing of personal data should be subject to a standard of protection of personal data under their national law which complies with Directive (EU) 2016/680 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by competent authorities for the purposes of the prevention, investigation, detection or prosecution of criminal offences or the execution of criminal penalties, and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Council Framework Decision 2008/977/JHA.
               
               
                  The Protocol conditions the access to Eurodac for law enforcement purposes by Iceland and Norway by prior legal and technical implementation of Decision 2008/615/JHA with regard to dactyloscopic data.
               
               
                  The Protocol provides that the mechanisms regarding amendments provided for in the Agreement of 19 January 2001 should apply to all amendments regarding the access to Eurodac for law enforcement purposes.
               
               
            
            
               2018/0419 (NLE)
            
            
               Proposal for a
            
            
               COUNCIL DECISION
            
         
         
            
               on the conclusion of a Protocol between the European Union, the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway to the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway concerning the criteria and mechanisms for establishing the State responsible for examining a request for asylum lodged in a Member State or in Iceland or Norway regarding the access to Eurodac for law enforcement purposes
            
            
               THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
            
            
               Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 87(2)(a), Article 88(2)(a) and Article 218(6)(a) thereof,
            
            
               Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
            
            
               Having regard to the consent of the European Parliament
                  3
               ,
            
            
               Whereas:
            
            
               (1)In accordance with the Decision [XXX] of [XXX]
                  4
               , the Protocol between the European Union, the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway to the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway concerning the criteria and mechanisms for establishing the State responsible for examining a request for asylum lodged in a Member State or in Iceland or Norway regarding the access to Eurodac for law enforcement purposes was signed on [XXX], subject to its conclusion at a later date.
            
            
               (2)In order to support and strengthen police cooperation between the competent authorities of the  Member States and those of Norway and Iceland for the purpose of prevention, detection and investigation of terrorist offences and other serious criminal offences, the involvement of the EU is required to enable Norway and Iceland to participate in the law-enforcement-related aspects of Eurodac.
            
            
               (3)This Protocol should be approved on behalf of the European Union.
            
            
               (4)In accordance with Article 3 of the Protocol 21 on the Position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, these Member States have notified their wish to take part in the adoption and application of this Decision. 
            
            
               (5)In accordance with Articles 1 and 2 of Protocol No 22 on the position of Denmark, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Denmark is not taking part in the adoption of this Decision and is not bound by it or subject to its application, 
            
            
               HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 
            
            
               Article 1
            
            
               The Protocol between the European Union, the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway to the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway concerning the criteria and mechanisms for establishing the State responsible for examining a request for asylum lodged in a Member State or in Iceland or Norway regarding the access to Eurodac for law enforcement purposes (‘the Protocol’) is hereby approved on behalf of the Union. 
            
            
               The text of the Protocol is attached to this Decision.
            
            
               Article 2
            
            
               The President of the Council shall designate the person(s) empowered to proceed, on behalf of the European Union, to the notification provided for in Article 4(2) of the Protocol, in order to express the consent of the European Union to be bound by the Protocol.
            
            
               Article 3
            
            
               This Decision shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
            
            
         
         
            
               Done at Brussels,
            
            
               
                     For the Council
               
               
                     The President
               
            
         
         
            
                  
                     (1)
                  
                        Regulation (EU) No 603/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on the establishment of 'Eurodac' for the comparison of fingerprints for the effective application of Regulation (EU) No 604/2013 establishing the criteria and mechanisms for determining the Member State responsible for examining an application for international protection lodged in one of the Member States by a third-country national or a stateless person and on requests for the comparison with Eurodac data by Member States' law enforcement authorities and Europol for law enforcement purposes, and amending Regulation (EU) No 1077/2011 establishing a European Agency for the operational management of large-scale IT systems in the area of freedom, security and justice (recast) (OJ L 180, 29.6.2013, p. 1). 
               
               
                  
                     (2)
                  
                        OJ L 93, 03.04.2001, p. 40.
               
               
                  
                     (3)
                  
                        OJ C […], […], p. […].
               
               
                  
                     (4)
                  
                        OJ L […], […], p. […]. 
               
            
      
    ---documentbreak--- 
      
         
               EUROPEAN COMMISSION
            Brussels, 13.12.2018
            COM(2018) 826 final
            ANNEX
            to the
            Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION
            on the conclusion of a Protocol between the European Union, the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway to the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway concerning the criteria and mechanisms for establishing the State responsible for examining a request for asylum lodged in a Member State or in Iceland or Norway regarding the access to Eurodac for law enforcement purposes
            
               
         
         
            
               ANNEX
            
            
               to the
            
            
               Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION
            
            
               on the conclusion of a Protocol between the European Union, the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway to the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway concerning the criteria and mechanisms for establishing the State responsible for examining a request for asylum lodged in a Member State or in Iceland or Norway regarding the access to Eurodac for law enforcement purposes
            
            
            
               THE EUROPEAN UNION
            
            
               and
            
            
               THE REPUBLIC OF ICELAND
            
            
               and 
            
            
               THE KINGDOM OF NORWAY 
            
            
               hereinafter referred to as 'the Parties’,
            
            
            
               (1)
                     CONSIDERING that on 19 January 2001, the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway concerning the criteria and mechanisms for establishing the State responsible for examining a request for asylum lodged in a Member State or in Iceland or Norway (hereinafter: Agreement of 19 January 2001) was concluded
                  1
               .
            
            
               (2)
                     RECALLING that on 26 June 2013 the European Union adopted Regulation (EU) No 603/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of 'Eurodac' for the comparison of fingerprints for the effective application of Regulation (EU) No 604/2013 establishing the criteria and mechanisms for determining the Member State responsible for examining an application for international protection lodged in one of the Member States by a third-country national or a stateless person and on requests for the comparison with Eurodac data by Member States' law enforcement authorities and Europol for law enforcement purposes, and amending Regulation (EU) No 1077/2011 establishing a European Agency for the operational management of large-scale IT systems in the area of freedom, security and justice (hereinafter: Regulation (EU) No 603/2013) 
                  2
               .
            
            
               (3)
                     RECALLING that the procedures for comparison and data transmission for law enforcement purposes as laid down in the Regulation (EU) No 603/2013 do not constitute a development building upon the provisions of Eurodac within the meaning of the Agreement of 19 January 2001.  
            
            
               (4)
                     CONSIDERING that a Protocol should be concluded between the European Union and the Republic of Iceland, hereinafter referred to as ‘Iceland’, and the Kingdom of Norway, hereinafter referred to as ‘Norway’, to enable Iceland and Norway to participate in the law-enforcement-related aspects of Eurodac and therefore enable designated law enforcement authorities in Iceland and Norway to request the comparison of fingerprint data transmitted to the Eurodac Central System by the other participating States.
            
            
               (5)
                     CONSIDERING that the application of Regulation (EU) No 603/2013 for law enforcement purposes to Iceland and Norway should also enable designated law enforcement authorities of the other participating States and Europol to request the comparison of fingerprint data transmitted to the Eurodac Central System by Iceland and Norway.
            
            
               (6)
                     CONSIDERING that the processing of personal data by the designated law enforcement authorities of the participating States as well as by Europol for the purposes of the prevention, detection or investigation of terrorist offences or of other serious criminal offences pursuant to this Protocol should be subject to a standard of protection of personal data under their national law which complies with Directive (EU) 2016/680 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by competent authorities for the purposes of the prevention, investigation, detection or prosecution of criminal offences or the execution of criminal penalties, and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Council Framework Decision 2008/977/JHA
               
                  
                     3
                  
               
               .
            
            
               (7)
                     CONSIDERING that the further conditions set out in Regulation (EU) No 603/2013 as regards the processing of personal data by the designated authorities of the participating States as well as by Europol for the purposes of the prevention, detection or investigation of terrorist offences or of other serious criminal offences should also apply.
            
         
         
            
               (8)
                     CONSIDERING that access for the designated authorities of Iceland and Norway should be allowed only on condition that comparisons with the national fingerprint databases of the requesting State and with the automated fingerprinting identification systems of all other participating States under Council Decision 2008/615/JHA of 23 June 2008 on the stepping up of cross-border cooperation, particularly in combating terrorism and cross-border crime
                  4
                did not lead to the establishment of the identity of the data subject. That condition requires the requesting State to conduct comparisons with the automated fingerprinting identification systems of all other participating States under Council Decision 2008/615/JHA which are technically available, unless that requesting State can justify that there are reasonable grounds to believe that it would not lead to the establishment of the identity of the data subject. Such reasonable grounds exist in particular where the specific case does not present any operational or investigative link to a given participating State. That condition requires prior legal and technical implementation of Council Decision 2008/615/JHA by the requesting State with regard to dactyloscopic data, as it should not be permitted to conduct a Eurodac check for law enforcement purposes where those above steps have not been first taken.
            
            
               (9)
                     CONSIDERING that prior to searching Eurodac, designated authorities of Iceland and Norway should also, provided that the conditions for a comparison are met, consult the Visa Information System under Council Decision 2008/633/JHA of 23 June 2008 concerning access for consultation of the Visa Information System (VIS) by designated authorities of Member States and by Europol for the purposes of the prevention, detection and investigation of terrorist offences and of other serious criminal offences
                  5
               .
            
            
               (10)
                     CONSIDERING that identical mechanisms regarding new legislation and new acts or measures as provided for in the Agreement of 19 January 2001, including the role of the Joint Committee, should apply to all new legislation and new acts or measures regarding the access to Eurodac for law enforcement purposes. 
            
            
            
               HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
            
            
            
               Article 1
            
            
               1.
                     Regulation (EU) No 603/2013 shall be implemented by Iceland as regards the comparison of fingerprint data with those stored in the Eurodac Central System for law enforcement purposes, and applied in its relations with Norway and with the other participating States.
            
            
               2.
                     Regulation (EU) No 603/2013 shall be implemented by Norway as regards the comparison of fingerprint data with those stored in the Eurodac Central System for law enforcement purposes, and applied in its relations with Iceland and with the other participating States. 
            
            
               3.
                     The Member States of the European Union except Denmark shall be considered as participating States within the meaning of paragraphs 1 and 2. They shall apply the provisions of Regulation (EU) No 603/2013 which relate to law enforcement access to Iceland and Norway.
            
            
               4.
                     Denmark, Switzerland and Liechtenstein shall be considered as participating States within the meaning of paragraphs 1 and 2 to the extent that respective agreements similar to the present agreement are applied between them and the European Union which recognize Iceland and Norway as participating States. 
            
            
            
               Article 2
            
            
               1.
                     This Protocol shall not enter into force before the provisions of Directive (EU) 2016/680 are implemented and applied by Iceland and Norway to the processing of personal data by its national authorities for the purposes laid down in Article 1(2) of Regulation (EU) No 603/2013.
            
            
               2.
                     In addition to paragraph 1, the conditions set out in Regulation (EU) No 603/2013 as regards the processing of personal data shall apply to Iceland and Norway in relation to the processing of personal data by its national authorities for the purposes laid down in Article 1(2) of Regulation (EU) No 603/2013.
            
            
            
               Article 3
            
            
               The provisions of the Agreement of 19 January 2001 regarding new legislation and new acts or measures, including those concerning the Joint Committee, shall apply to all new legislation and new acts or measures related to the access to Eurodac for law enforcement purposes.
            
            
            
               Article 4
            
         
         
            
               1.
                     This Protocol shall be ratified or approved by the Parties. Instruments of ratification or approval shall be deposited with the Secretary General of the Council of the European Union, who shall be the depositary of this Protocol.
            
            
               2.
                     This Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the month following notification by the depositary to the Parties that the instrument of ratification or approval of the European Union and of at least one of the other Parties has been deposited.
            
            
               3.
                     This Protocol shall not apply with regard to Iceland before the provisions of Chapter 6 of Council Decision 2008/615/JHA have been implemented by Iceland and until the evaluation procedures under Chapter 4 of the Annex of Council Decision 2008/616/JHA on the implementation of Decision 2008/615/JHA on the stepping up of cross-border cooperation, particularly in combating terrorism and cross-border crime
                  6
                have been completed with regard to dactyloscopic data with regard to Iceland.
            
            
               4.
                     This Protocol shall not apply with regard to Norway before the provisions of Chapter 6 of Council Decision 2008/615/JHA have been implemented by Norway and until the evaluation procedures under Chapter 4 of the Annex of Council Decision 2008/616/JHA have been completed with regard to dactyloscopic data with regard to Norway.
            
            
            
               Article 5
            
            
               1.
                     Each Party may withdraw from this Protocol by sending a declaration in writing to the depositary. This declaration shall take effect six months after being deposited.
            
            
               2.
                     The Protocol shall cease to be effective if either the European Union or both Iceland and Norway have withdrawn from it.
            
            
               3.
                     This Protocol ceases to be effective with respect to Iceland if the Agreement of 19 January 2001 ceases to be effective with respect to Iceland.
            
            
               4.
                     This Protocol ceases to be effective with respect to Norway if the Agreement of 19 January 2001 ceases to be effective with respect to Norway.
            
            
               5.
                     A withdrawal from this Protocol by one Party or its suspension or termination with respect to one Party will not affect the Agreement of 19 January 2001.
            
            
            
               Article 6
            
            
               This Protocol shall be drawn up in one single original in the Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish, Icelandic and Norwegian languages, each of these texts being equally authentic.
            
            
               The original shall be deposited with the depositary, who shall establish a certified true copy for each of the Parties.
            
            
            
               Done at Brussels on
            
         
         
            
                  
                     (1)
                  
                        OJ L 93, 03.04.2001, p. 40.
               
               
                  
                     (2)
                  
                        OJ L 180, 29.6.2013, p. 1.
               
               
                  
                     (3)
                  
                        OJ L 119, 4.5.2016, p. 89.
               
               
                  
                     (4)
                  
                        OJ L 210, 6.8.2008, p. 1.
               
               
                  
                     (5)
                  
                        OJ L 218, 13.8.2008, p. 129.
               
               
                  
                     (6)
                  
                        OJ L 210, 6.8.2008, p. 12.