MEPs in the European Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee today voted on plans to update rules on the Eurodac database of asylum seeker fingerprints, notably by allowing law enforcement authorities access to the database.

GUE/NGL MEP Cornelia Ernst commented: “Allowing law enforcement authorities access to the Eurodac database, where fingerprints of asylum seekers are stored, effectively puts asylum seekers under suspicion of having committed a crime, which is unacceptable. In addition, this policy contributes to the acceptance of racist views and therefore only serves to boost extremist right-wing groups.”

GUE/NGL MEP Dennis de Jong said: “Not only does the Eurodac database operate completely contrary to its original intended purpose, but it also breaches the rule of law. People should be innocent until proven guilty, and for asylum seekers and refugees that principle is not respected.”

GUE/NGL Press Contacts:
Emily Macintosh +32 470 85 05 08
Gay Kavanagh +32 473 84 23 20