Monitoring and evaluation
Article 17
1. The Management Authority referred to in Regulation (EC) No 767/2008 shall ensure that systems are in place to monitor the functioning of the VIS pursuant to this Decision against objectives, in terms of output, cost-effectiveness, security and quality of service. 2. For the purpose of technical maintenance, the Management Authority shall have access to the necessary information relating to the processing operations performed in the VIS. 3. Two years after the VIS is brought into operation and every two years thereafter, the Management Authority shall submit a report to the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on the technical functioning of the VIS pursuant to this Decision. That report shall include information on the performance of the VIS against quantitative indicators predefined by the Commission, and in particular on the need and use made of Article 4(2). 4. Three years after the VIS is brought into operation and every four years thereafter, the Commission shall produce an overall evaluation of the VIS pursuant to this Decision. This evaluation shall include an examination of the results achieved against objectives and an assessment of the continuing validity of the underlying rationale behind this Decision, the application of this Decision in respect of the VIS, the security of the VIS and any implications for future operations. The Commission shall transmit the evaluation reports to the European Parliament and the Council. 5. The Member States and Europol shall provide to the Management Authority and the Commission the information necessary to draft the reports referred to in paragraph 3 and 4. This information shall not jeopardise working methods nor include information that reveals sources, staff members or investigations of the designated authorities. 6. The Management Authority shall provide the Commission with the information necessary to produce the overall evaluations referred to in paragraph 4. 7. During the transitional period before the Management Authority takes up its responsibilities, the Commission shall be responsible for producing and submitting the reports referred to in paragraph 3.