With a decisive political agreement, the Council paved the way for the establishment of a European agency for the operational management of large-scale IT systems in summer 2012 on the basis of a compromise text with the European Parliament.
The presidency can now confirm to the European Parliament that, if Parliament adopts its position at first reading, exactly as set out in the compromise text, the Council will approve Parliament's position at a future meeting.
The aim is to have the agency up and running by summer 2012. The seat of the Agency will be in Tallinn, tasks related to development and operational management will be carried out in Strasbourg and a backup site will be established in Austria, in Sankt Johann im Pongau.
Large-scale IT systems managed by the future agency will include the second-generation Schengen Information System (SIS II), the Visa Information System (VIS) and EURODAC. The agency will also be responsible for the management of any other IT systems which might be developed in the area of freedom, security and justice in the future. However, any integration of further systems will require a specific decision by the Council and the European Parliament.