Press Release: Proposed Visa Information System (VIS) enhances security and facilitates travelling in EU

The European Commission adopted a proposal for a Regulation concerning the Visa Information System (VIS) and the exchange of data between Member States on short-stay visas, 7 January 2005. The VIS was designed for the exchange of visa data between Member States and is thus primarily an instrument to support the common visa policy. It also aims at facilitating checks at the external borders and within the Member States, the application of the 'Dublin'-Regulation determining the Member State responsible for examining an asylum application and the identification and return of illegal immigrants. The VIS was planned to be composed of a European central database, which would be connected to the national systems to enable consulates and other competent authorities of the Member States to enter and consult data on visa applications and the decisions taken thereto.

http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/05/3&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/05/3&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

---