Today, the Council adopted a regulation that enhances the automated search and exchange of data for police cooperation. This new law will improve the existing framework, often referred to as Prüm I, which already allows law enforcement authorities to consult the national databases of other member states regarding DNA, fingerprint, and vehicle registration data.
The rules agreed today will expand the data categories for which automated exchanges can occur. Police authorities will now also be able to search for facial images and police records. Moreover, if permitted by national law, searches across all categories to find missing persons or identify human remains will also be possible.
Among other innovations, Europol will now also be able to search national databases to cross-check information it has received from third countries. The regulation also includes the establishment of a modernised IT infrastructure.
This new law will enter into force on the twentieth day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. The regulation is directly applicable in the EU member states.
