The Minister of Justice and Public Order, Mr Ionas Nicolaou, departs today for Brussels, where he will participate in the deliberations of the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council, to be held on 18 November 2016. During the Council issues of internal security are expected to be examined.
Ministers will have a first exchange of views on key aspects of the forthcoming Commission proposal that would set up EU Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). The Ministers will also discuss the progress of the implementation of the interoperability of the EU databases and information systems, which will boost the qualitative exchange of information and the effectiveness in prosecuting the serious cross-border crime.
Moreover, the Ministers will exchange views on the activities of the European Internet Forum, in the context of which the cooperation with internet services providers is promoted. The aim is to decrease the access to terrorism propaganda and to find effective alternative solutions for the addressing of the rhetoric that promotes terrorism online.
Furthermore, the Council will exchange views on the implementation of the Directive on the use of passenger name record (PNR) data for the prevention and investigation of terrorist attacks and serious crime. The goal is to discuss the problems faced by the member states in the process of adopting the Directive and to find solutions to the legal and technical sectors.
Finally, as regards the issues of counter-terrorism, the Ministers will be briefed on the course of the implementation of the counter-terrorism measures, agreed by the state leaders on February 2015.
Minister Nicolaou returns to Cyprus on Saturday, 19 November 2016.