Spain believes necessary to start the European register of air passengers

USPA NEWS - The Spanish Minister of Interior, Jorge Fernandez Diaz, who participated Friday in the Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers of Justice and Home Affairs of the European Union, considered necessary start as soon as the European register of air passengers and a strengthened system SIS-II.

In his speech, Jorge Fernandez Diaz expressed his deepest condolences for the victims of the terrorist attacks last week in Paris to give their support and full cooperation of Spain to the French authorities in their fight against all kinds of terrorism. The Spanish Minister of Interior said it was "an attack on our way of life in democracy and not just an attack on France but across Europe an attack against us all." Jorge Fernandez Diaz said the rapid reaction of France increasing security measures and sharing information rapidly.

Fernandez Diaz recalled that all member States "we are exposed to a common threat that we have to work together," adding that "we must be aware that the fight against terrorism also requires responsibility and solidarity of all Member States." The Spanish minister said that cooperation between Spain and France "is extraordinary and what we get is that it is extraordinary among the 28 Member States."

Fernandez Diaz called for collaboration and exchange of information between the countries of the European Union be strengthened "to avoid being vulnerable to terrorism" as well as the immediate creation of a European register of air passengers. At this point, the minister moved to its European counterparts the measures that Spain considers it necessary to adopt as soon as possible and of utmost importance, a European PNR (Passenger Name Record) immediately, and it urged the European Commission and the Presidency of the European Union continue to pursue this case.

Jorge Fernandez Diaz said that Spain supports conducting systematic checks at external borders without thereby preventing freedom of movement, and the implementation of smart borders package. In this sense, the Spanish minister reiterated the importance of information exchange through the SIS-II - the Schengen Information System - on the exchange of information between supervisory authorities of national borders, customs authorities and law enforcement authorities about people who may have been involved in a serious crime, so that the security forces have the largest and best information possible in their research and for border controls.

Moreover, explained the minister, Spain attaches great importance to the interoperability of systems and databases of Interpol weapons (iArms) with the Schengen Information System (SIS). Jorge Fernandez Diaz also noted that the Security Forces and judicial authorities need to intensify the exchange of information and operational cooperation through Europol and Eurojust. The Spanish Minister of Interior moved to his European colleagues the value that Spain attaches to the new tools such as EUROPOL European Counterterrorism Center, which will be operational by January 1, 2016.

Fernandez Diaz said that Spain wants to strengthen control firearms and explosives, and therefore supports the proposal recently presented by the Commission to amend the Directive on this matter. In addition, the adoption, last Wednesday, the reform of the regulation on the marking of firearms is a step in the right direction that Spain has supported. Fernandez Diaz said it is necessary to amend the Framework Decision on Terrorism (2008) to include those crimes characteristic of jihadist terrorism and to do so face the new challenges involved and announced that Spain will support the Commission in the legislative process to be started at respect. Finally, he stressed the importance of continuing close cooperation.