College to discuss proposal to facilitate the exchange of criminal records of non-EU citizens through European Criminal Records Information System (ECRIS)

Today, the College will discuss a key action announced in the Agenda for Security. The European Criminal Records Information System (ECRIS) will be upgraded to facilitate the exchange of criminal records of non-EU citizens. This system was established in 2012 and enables national judicial authorities to receive information on previous criminal convictions in other Member States either for court proceedings or criminal investigations. This allows for a rapid and efficient exchange of information between national authorities, contributing to improving the prevention and fight against cross-border crime and terrorism. Member States currently send through ECRIS around 288,000 requests per year on previous criminal convictions across the EU. ECRIS should be used at its full potential to better respond to growing terrorist threats that need improved cross-border cooperation to ensure the security of citizens. A press conference will take place at 15:30 in the European Parliament’s Press conference room in Strasbourg at 15:30 or followed live here. A press release and a Q&A will be published online, following the College meeting.