People want to enter the EU for a variety of reasons and through different channels: reuniting with family, work, business or education but also to escape from political oppression or war. EU State authorities need to cooperate on border management to keep our borders secure. They also have a shared responsibility for treating asylum seekers equally throughout the EU. A number of information sharing mechanisms - which include the collection and the exchange of information on non EU citizens - are central to their cooperation on migration and asylum.
Opinion on three Proposals regarding the Second Generation Schengen Information System (SIS II) (COM (2005)230 final, COM (2005)236 final and COM (2005)237 final), OJ C 91, 19.04.2006, p. 38
Opinion on the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the Visa Information System (VIS) and the exchange of data between Member States on short stay-visas, OJ C 181, 23.7.2005, p. 13