The European Parliament has adopted draft regulations to implement a Schengen Information System upgrade.
The Schengen Information System, a database of information shared between 30 European countries for security and law enforcement purposes, aims to help Member States and Schengen Associated Countries combat cross-border crime, irregular migration and terrorism. A rudimentary version was established in 1995, with significant updates in 2006 and 2013. It is the most widely used security and border management information network in Europe: the system was consulted by participating nations five billion times in 2017. The new Schengen Information System upgrade was devised to streamline processes and expand access to crucial cross-border information.
The Schengen Information System upgrade will provide:
- New alerts on unknown wanted individuals connected with serious crime and terrorism;
- The obligation of Member States to share the details of terrorist acts with all other participating states;
- Preventive alerts for at-risk vulnerable persons and children at risk of abduction, particularly parental abduction;
- New alerts when a decision is made to return a non-EU national who has been staying illegally to their country of origin; and
- Expansion of access – whereas currently the system can be accessed by border control, police, the judiciary and migration enforcement authority, the Schengen Information System upgrade will widen access to include Europol, who will receive all alerts; and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, which will receive alerts relevant to its field.
Rapporteur Carlos Coelho said: “SIS is the backbone of information exchange in Europe, for border guards and law enforcement authorities. [The Schengen Information System upgrade] will prepare the system for the future, improve security and ensure freedom of movement. SIS is and will remain the biggest, most used, best-implemented database in Europe, while delivering more security to our citizens.”
The Schengen Information System upgrade will now be passed to the European Council for approval.
