The European Parliament (EP) adopted its position on the reform of the Visa Information System (VIS) by 522 votes in favor to 122 against, with 31 abstentions. The VIS is an EU database used by authorities to check non-EU nationals who need a visa to travel to the Schengen area. The reform would enable the system to better respond to evolving security and migratory challenges and improve the EU’s external border management. MEPs want the reform of the database to include: mandatory security checks across all EU databases to detect applicants using multiple identities or posing a security threat, include long-stay and golden visas and residence permits in the database, lower from 12 to 6 the age for obtaining fingerprints and facial images of minors in order to help identify and trace missing children and establish family links, ensure better access for Europol and law enforcement authorities to VIS data to identify victims of crime or make progress in their investigations into serious crime or terrorism. Parliament and Council negotiators still need to negotiate on the final wording of the legislation.