Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/2413 of 5 December 2022 on the mechanism and the procedures for carrying out quality checks and appropriate requirements for data quality compliance, and the specification of quality standards pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 767/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council

1 This Decision lays down the detailed rules on the automated mechanism and procedures for carrying out quality checks and data quality compliance pursuant to Article 29(2a) of Regulation (EC) No 767/2008.

2 This Decision also lays down the detailed rules concerning the specifications of the data quality standards for entering data when creating or updating application files in the Visa Information System (VIS) pursuant to Article 29a of Regulation (EC) No 767/2008.

3 This Decision shall not apply to the following: (a) the data contained in the read-only database referred to in Article 45c(6) of Regulation (EC) No 767/2008; (b) data fields marked for deletion.

For the purposes of this Decision, the following definitions apply: (1) ‘user’ means duly authorised staff of the visa authorities and the authorities competent to collect or decide on an application for a long-stay visa or residence permit; (2) ‘input data’ means data, subject to data quality checks for the purpose of being stored in the VIS Central System; (3) ‘blocking rules’ means rules or a set of rules that measure the degree to which input data is compliant with defined data requirements on their storage or use or both, including data quality rules that must be complied with before data can be entered in the VIS Central System. (4) ‘soft rules’ means rules or a set of rules that measure the degree to which the input data is compliant with the defined data requirements conditioning its relevance or optimal use or both, including data quality rules applicable before data can be entered in the VIS Central System.

1 The automated mechanism established for ensuring data quality compliance shall apply to the entry or amendment of data when creating or updating application files in VIS by the competent authorities pursuant to Article 6(1) of Regulation (EC) No 767/2008.

2 For enhanced data quality compliance, eu-LISA shall set up a mechanism to avoid: (a) syntax errors by allowing only correctly formatted data fields to be entered, or stored; (b) semantic errors by, where possible, limiting the use of free text fields.

3 The data-quality compliance mechanism shall allow the application of blocking rules. When blocking rules do not apply, soft rules shall be applied to data entered or amended by the competent authorities pursuant to Article 6(1) of Regulation (EC) No 767/2008, in accordance with Articles 6, 8, 9, 9c, 9d, 9e, 9g, 10, 12, 13, 14, 22a, 22c, 22d, 22e, 22f, 24, 25 of that Regulation.

4 In order to determine data quality compliance with the blocking or soft rules, the data quality compliance mechanism referred to in paragraph 3 of this Article shall comply with points 1 and 2 of the Annex.

5 The data-quality compliance mechanism shall assess the extent to which the data complies with each data quality indicator by applying the data quality standard of each indicator. As a result of that assessment, the data-quality compliance mechanism shall assign to the input data a data quality classification pursuant to the process laid down in point 3 of the Annex.

6 eu-LISA shall implement the data quality standards for each indicator in accordance with the Annex.

1 Input data not complying with a blocking rule shall be rejected from being entered and stored in the VIS Central System. Where the input data does not comply with a blocking rule, the data-quality compliance mechanism shall return an error message and provide guidance to the user on the correct way to make the input data comply with the blocking rule.

2 Input data not complying with a soft rule shall be entered into the VIS Central System with a data quality issue flag, notification or warning message. Where the input data does not comply with a soft rule, the data-quality compliance mechanism shall allow the entry of the data, return a warning message and provide guidance to the user on the correct way to make the input data comply with the soft rule.

3 Data fields which are essential for the functioning of the VIS shall have a blocking rule. The data fields to which a blocking or a soft rule shall apply are defined in the technical specifications. The technical specifications shall be developed by eu-LISA.

The competent authorities pursuant to Article 6(1) of the Regulation (EC) No 767/2008 shall ensure the accuracy, completeness, consistency, timeliness and uniqueness of the data processed in the VIS Central System.

The information for the purpose of providing the different reports pursuant to Article 29(2a) of Regulation (EC) No 767/2008 shall be automatically generated from the central repository for reporting and statistics referred to in Article 39 of Regulation (EU) 2019/817 and shall include: (a) for alphanumeric and biometric data assessed against blocking rules and soft rules, compliance with data quality indicators: (1) completeness (%); (2) accuracy (%); (3) uniqueness (%); (4) timeliness (%); (5) consistency (%); (b) completeness of application files (%); (c) compliance of data with the ‘good quality’ classification (%); (d) compliance of data with the ‘low quality’ classification (%); (e) data fields that cause frequent quality issues. The different reports pursuant to Article 29(2a) of Regulation (EC) No 767/2008 shall be produced on a monthly basis.

Based on the reports referred to in Article 6 and in cooperation with Member States, when appropriate, eu-LISA may address any data quality issues and where necessary, adjust the compliance mechanism and procedures, as appropriate.

This Decision shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. The provisions in this Decision shall apply from the date of the start of operations of the VIS pursuant to Article 11 of Regulation (EU) 2021/1134.