Sécurité, stabilité et soutien aux processus de réforme
information systems on security law

Member states of the Prüm Treaty

Since police data are most sensitive and the protection of the private sphere is a fundamental individual right anchored in the European Charter at the basis of the European Union, the international exchange of police data is highly regulated. At the same time, the international exchange of police data is a key for combatting cross-border crimes.
As a new Member State and a new member of the Prüm Treaty , Romania has to integrate the “acquis communautaire” and other specific treaty provisions regarding the exchange of police data and, in the case of dactyloscopic data (fingerprints), a series of EU Council decisions need to be complied with.

The overall objective is to support Romania in combating cross-border crime and to comply with EU Decisions and the Prüm Treaty Provisions regarding the quality of AFIS data (Automatic Fingerprint Identification System), interconnection with 26 EU member states and response to EU members AFIS requests. Meeting these obligations would also further prepare Romania for an adhesion to the Schengen Agreement. While Switzerland is neither a EU Member State neither a signatory of the Prüm Treaty, it may benefit directly from the quality of dactyloscopic data in Romania already today and even more once Romania obtains membership in the Schengen Agreement.

Exchange of know-how with Swiss experts and short training sessions will be the main activities conducted by the project. A partnership is established with the Geneva cantonal police to provide expertise in laboratory organization, quality management, and AFIS data.
The quality of the dactyloscopic data needs to be assured through optimized organization, design of workflow and processes and, ultimately, going through a process of certification according to ISO standards and norms. 30 local laboratories still need to be certified.

The expected results are:

• Result 1: The national laboratory is fully equipped to ensure an automated AFIS international data exchange and compliance with the Prüm Treaty and EU Council Decisions
• Result 2: The network of portable stations for fingerprint is completed
• Result 3: The know-how of laboratory staff in international good practices in data exchange is improved