Eurodac Supervision Coordination Group

On 15 June 1990 in Dublin, Member States concluded the Convention determining the State responsible for examining applications for asylum lodged in one of the Member States of the European Communities, known as the Dublin Convention. For the purposes of applying the Dublin Convention, it was necessary to allow each Member State to check whether an alien found illegally present on its territory has applied for asylum in another Member State.

Fingerprints constitute an important element in establishing the exact identity of such persons. Hence, it was necessary to set up a system for the comparison of fingerprint data. Therefore, in 2000 by way of Regulation (EU) 2725/2000 Eurodac for the comparison of fingerprints for the effective application of the Dublin Convention was established.

The current legal ground for the operation of Eurodac is the Regulation (EU) 603/2013. The purpose of Eurodac is to help determine which Member State in accordance with the Regulation (EU) 604/2013 is responsible for examining an application for international protection lodged in one of the Member States by a third-country national or a stateless person.

Eurodac stands for European Asylum Dactyloscopy -it stores, processes and compares the fingerprints of asylum applicants and migrants apprehended at the EU’s external border. Eurodac consists of a Central Unit, which operates a computerised central database of fingerprint data, as well as of the electronic means of transmission between the Member States and the central database.

In order to ensure coordinated supervision of Eurodac, pursuant to Art. 32 of the Regulation 603/203 the national supervisory authorities and the European Data Protection Supervisor each acting within the scope of their respective competences, cooperate actively and meet usually twice a year in the framework of the Eurodac Supervision Coordination Group (Eurodac SCG). The Group consists of EU Member States’ authorities, as well as those of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Within the framework of cooperation and regular meetings, Members of the Group:

• exchange relevant information;
• assist each other in carrying out audits and inspections;
• examine difficulties of interpretation or application of the Eurodac legal framework;
• study problems with the exercise of independent supervision or in the exercise of the rights of data subjects;
• draw up harmonised proposals for joint solutions to any problems and promote awareness of data protection rights.

A joint report of activities shall be sent to the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission and the Agency (eu-LISA) every two years.

More detailed information about the Eurodac SCG can be found on its website.

As a result of the work of this group, a Guide on the Right to information in Eurodac has been prepared in cooperation with the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA). The Guide, which is available below in the Annex, reminds that asylum applicants and migrants apprehended at the external border have a duty to give their fingerprints. When their fingerprints are taken, persons have the right to understand who is processing their personal data and why. They have the right to know what data are stored and for how long. They should know how to access it, correct and erase their data, in case of mistakes and whom to contact for these purposes.