Note on the proposal of the JHA Council to give law enforcement authorities access to Eurodac

During their meeting of 12-13 June 2007, the JHA Council of Justice and Home Affairs (JHA Council) invited the European Commission to prepare a proposal to provide police and other law enforcement authorities with access
to Eurodac ‘for the purpose of consultation in the course of the exercise of their duties in relation to the prevention, detection and investigation of terrorist offences and other serious criminal offences.’ In paragraph 2.3.4. of its Evaluation of the Dublin System of June 6th 2007, (COM(2007) 299 final), the European Commission announced that it will explore the possibility to extend the scope of EURODAC with a view to use its data for law enforcement purposes. The Standing Committee of Experts is deeply concerned about this development. EU measures or policies in the field of Freedom, Security, and Justice should not be based on the general presumption that migrants within the EU are to be treated as suspected terrorists. Such a policy would run against the general accepted principles in EU law of non-discrimination and equality. It is also devastative for the position of migrants and their further integration into the society of EU Member States.