Data exchange to clamp down on immigration

System will help share information on movement of illegal immigrants

The European Commission is to create a web-based information system to share details of illegal immigration within the European Union (EU).

Dubbed the Information and Co-ordination Network (Iconet), the system is intended to provide a secure exchange of early warning messages across Europe to help prevent illegal immigration.

Franco Frattini, vice president and EU commissioner responsible for justice, freedom and security, says Iconet is an important platform on which to share strategic, tactical and operational information on illegal migration.

‘Such a network is an indispensable element in the EU’s efforts to combat illegal immigration more effectively,’ he said.

Iconet will also be used to improve co-operation among immigration liaison officers posted abroad by EU member states.

For now, no personal data will be exchanged via the network, for legal and technical reasons.

But the system has yet to be approved by the EU parliament.

Green Party MEP for London, Jean Lambert, said: ‘The value of the system is questionable. The sort of pan-European police co-operation measures already in place ought to be able to deal with this kind of communication.’