| Advisory Group Meetings Highlights | | https://www.eulisa.europa.eu/Newsroom/News/Pages/Advisory-Group-Meetings-Highlights.aspx | Advisory Group Meetings Highlights | 04/03/2021 08:00:00 | <p>The 36<sup>th</sup> Eurodac Advisory Group and the 35<sup>th</sup> SIS II Advisory Group (AG) meetings were hosted by eu-LISA on 2 and 3 March 2021 respectively.</p><p>Convened in a digital format, the meetings dealt with the election of the chairperson for the Eurodac AG and deputy chairpersons for both the Eurodac AG and the SIS II AG, and updated participants on the state of play of the two large-scale IT systems.</p><p>Lorenzo Rinaldi (Italy) was re-elected as chairperson of the Eurodac AG and Franc Kumer (Slovenia) was re-elected as the Eurodac AG Deputy Chairperson. The deputy chairperson of the SIS II AG is Erwin Zweers (the Netherlands).</p><p>The Multi-System Exercise 2020 report, the impact of Brexit on the usage of the two systems, the status of the SIS recast implementation, and Eurodac-Interoperability requirements were also on the agenda. Other topics included the integration of Cyprus in SIS II testing activities, as well as the 2021 training plans for both systems.</p><p>More than 100 Member State representatives, observers and Agency staff attended the meetings.</p><p>The next SIS II AG meeting will take place on 5 May, followed by the Eurodac AG meeting on 6 May.</p><p>Each AG meeting contributes to informing all involved stakeholders about the latest developments and improving the IT systems that form the Schengen Area's digital resilience and strengthen Europe's internal security.<br></p><p><br></p> | | |
| Heads of Diplomatic Missions and Senior Estonian Officials Annual Briefing Held Online | | https://www.eulisa.europa.eu/Newsroom/News/Pages/Heads-of-Diplomatic-Missions-and-Senior-Estonian-Officials-Annual-Briefing-Held-Online.aspx | Heads of Diplomatic Missions and Senior Estonian Officials Annual Briefing Held Online | 03/03/2021 22:00:00 | <p style="text-align:justify;">eu-LISA hosted today, 4 March 2021, in a virtual format, its 7<sup>th</sup> high-level meeting with Ambassadors and representatives from diplomatic missions in Estonia. Already a traditional annual event, the briefing is also attended by senior officials from the Estonian administration.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">An overview of the Agency's priorities for the current year, as well as the effects of COVID-19 on operational activities, were presented by Executive Director Krum Garkov and Deputy Executive Director Luca Tagliaretti.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Uku Särekanno, Head of Cabinet of the Executive Management, outlined the state-of-play on the large-scale IT systems entrusted to eu-LISA – Eurodac, SIS, and VIS, as well as EES, ETIAS and ECRIS-TCN, which are currently under development.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">A key topic discussed was the Agency's growing role in the justice domain. With the development and takeover of the ECRIS RI (European Criminal Records Information System Reference Implementation) and e‐CODEX - scheduled for 2023 - eu-LISA will gain a prominent role in implementing the European Commission's vision on the digitalisation of justice in the EU.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Despite the physical separation, participants engaged in a highly interactive discussion.<br></p><p></p><center>
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| EU Justice and Home Affairs Agencies’ Response To the COVID-19 Pandemic | | https://www.eulisa.europa.eu/Newsroom/News/Pages/EU-Justice-and-Home-Affairs-Agencies’-Response-To-the-COVID-19-Pandemic.aspx | EU Justice and Home Affairs Agencies’ Response To the COVID-19 Pandemic | 17/02/2021 08:45:00 | <p>Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, nine Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) agencies (<a href="https://cepol.europa.eu/">CEPOL</a>,
<a href="https://easo.europa.eu/">EASO</a>,
<a href="https://eige.europa.eu/">EIGE</a>,
<a href="http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/">EMCDDA</a>,
<a href="https://eulisa.europa.eu/">eu-LISA</a>,
<a href="file:///C:/Users/popessa/Desktop/jhaa/Eurojust">Eurojust</a>,
<a href="https://www.europol.europa.eu/">Europol</a>,
<a href="https://fra.europa.eu/en">FRA</a> and
<a href="https://frontex.europa.eu/">Frontex</a>) have been supporting the Member States and EU institutions in meeting the unprecedented challenges resulting from the outbreak of the virus - each agency in its respective area of work.</p><p>In the past months, all JHA agencies have taken the necessary measures to ensure business continuity and uninterrupted operational support. At the same time, the Justice and Home Affairs Agencies' Network (JHAAN), under the chairmanship of Eurojust, has initiated a mutual dialogue to share the agencies' experiences in dealing with the pandemic and to consider new avenues for closer cooperation with key stakeholders inside and outside the EU.</p><p>
<a href="/Newsroom/News/Documents/20200715%20JHAAN%20Joint%20Paper.pdf"><img src="/Newsroom/News/PublishingImages/20200715_infographic_th.jpg" alt="" style="float:left;margin-right:10px;margin-bottom:5px;max-width:220px;border:1px solid #d1d3d4;" /></a>The agencies' individual and joint efforts to deal with the impact of the pandemic have been captured in a
<a href="https://www.eurojust.europa.eu/sites/default/files/2021-01/jhaan_joint_paper_update_december_2020_final.pdf">Joint Paper on the COVID-19 response by the JHA agencies</a>, which was formally endorsed by the Heads of JHA agencies during a videoconference held on 9 July and subsequently <strong>updated in December 2020</strong>. During their meeting, the Heads discussed the latest developments, including the fundamental rights implications of government COVID-19 measures, the quick adaptation of organised crime to the changing circumstances and the recent surge in drug use, domestic violence and child abuse.</p><p>To more effectively tackle these and other issues related to the protection of citizens and freedoms, there is a need for increased interagency cooperation in the field of digitalisation and also for sustainable financial resources in the coming years. </p><p>The COVID-19 pandemic coincides with the 10<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the Justice and Home Affairs agencies' Network. In the past decade, this family of JHA agencies joined forces as guardians of the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice. Together, they contributed to the implementation of EU's objectives in the fields of migration, asylum and external border management, the fight against serious organised crime, drug trafficking and terrorism, gender equality and respect for fundamental rights.</p><p>
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<strong>Further reading</strong></p><ul><li>
<a href="https://www.eurojust.europa.eu/states-and-partners/eu-partners/jha-agencies-network" target="_blank">JHA Coordination</a></li><li>
<a href="https://www.eurojust.europa.eu/updated-joint-paper-jha-agencies-covid-19-response" target="_blank">Response of JHA agencies to COVID-19</a></li></ul>
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