Editing Schengen Information System

{{Short description|EEA database to support law enforcement}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
[[File:Schengen information system.svg|alt=|border|thumb|Schengen Information System:
{{legend|#3366FF|States that operate the Schengen Information System fully}}{{legend|#6633CC|State that operates the Schengen Information System within the context of law enforcement cooperation only}}]]
{{Politics of the European Union|Schengen Area}}
The '''Schengen Information System''' (SIS) is a [[governmental database]] maintained by the [[European Commission]]. The SIS is used by 31 European countries to find information about individuals and entities for the purposes of [[national security]], [[border control]] and [[law enforcement]] since 2001. A second technical version of this system, '''SIS II''', went live on 9 April 2013.<ref name="europa.eu">{{Cite press release |url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_13_309 |title=Schengen Information System (SIS II) goes live |website=Europa.eu |publisher=European Commission |date=9 April 2013 |access-date=30 December 2020 |archive-date=6 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806154350/https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_13_309 |url-status=live }}</ref> An upgraded Schengen Information System entered into operation on 7 March 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Security Union: The renewed Schengen Information Systems enters into operation|url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_1505|access-date=2023-12-17 |website=European Commission - European Commission |language=en}}</ref>

== Participating nations ==
Information in SIS is shared among the institutions of countries participating in the [[Schengen Agreement]] Application Convention (SAAC). The five original participating countries were France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. Twenty-two additional countries joined the system since its creation: Spain, Portugal, Italy, Austria, Greece, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Liechtenstein, Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania. Among the current participants, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland are members of the [[European Free Trade Association]] but not of the [[European Union]].

Although Ireland and the United Kingdom operate a [[Common Travel Area]] and had not signed the Schengen Agreement Application Convention (when the United Kingdom was still an EU member), they had the right to take part in Schengen co-operation under the terms of the [[Treaty of Amsterdam]]. Ireland joined the law enforcement aspect on 1 January 2021 and has "full operational capacity" since March 2021.<ref name="RTE201218">{{cite news | title= Ireland to join EU police database from 1 January as UK leaves | url= https://www.rte.ie/news/2020/1218/1185318-eu-security-system/ | author= Sean Whelan | work= RTE News | date= 18 December 2020 | access-date= 28 December 2020 | archive-date= 25 December 2020 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201225231700/https://www.rte.ie/news/2020/1218/1185318-eu-security-system/ | url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32020D1745 |title=COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2020/1745 of 18 November 2020 on the putting into effect of the provisions of the Schengen acquis on data protection and on the provisional putting into effect of certain provisions of the Schengen acquis in Ireland |publisher=EUR-Lex |access-date=30 December 2020 |archive-date=3 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003224156/https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32020D1745 |url-status=live }}</ref>  As a consequence of [[Brexit]], the UK lost access to the system on 31 December 2020. (UK law enforcement did 571 million searches in the database in 2019 alone<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/may/22/uk-and-eu-brexit-talks-clash-over-crime-fighting-database|title=UK and EU clash over crime-fighting database in Brexit talks|date=22 May 2020|website=the Guardian|access-date=30 December 2020|archive-date=4 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104032914/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/may/22/uk-and-eu-brexit-talks-clash-over-crime-fighting-database|url-status=live}}</ref>) and does not expect to regain any access before 2027 at the earliest.<ref>{{cite news |title=UK police and Border Force to remain locked out of EU database of criminals |first=Rajeev |last=Syal |work=The Guardian |date=1 March 2023 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/mar/01/uk-police-and-border-force-to-remain-locked-out-of-eu-database-of-criminals}}</ref>

== Introduction ==
SIS information is stored according to the [[legislation]] of each participating country. There are more than 46 million entries (called "alerts") in SIS, most about lost identity documents.<ref>[http://www.statewatch.org/news/2013/mar/eu-council-sis-stats-7389-13.pdf SIS] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109124819/http://www.statewatch.org/news/2013/mar/eu-council-sis-stats-7389-13.pdf |date=9 November 2013 }} Statewatch 2013</ref> Person alerts make up around 1.9 percent of the database (about 885,000 records). Each alert contains information such as: name, date of birth, gender, nationality, aliases, arms or history of violence, the reason for the alert and the action to be taken if the person is encountered. SIS does not record travellers' entries and exits from the [[Schengen Area]].<ref>[http://eur-lex.europa.eu/resource.html?uri=cellar:5c20aef7-fca4-11e5-b713-01aa75ed71a1.0001.02/DOC_2&format=PDF Commission staff working document: impact assessment report on the establishment of an EU entry exit system] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420143022/http://eur-lex.europa.eu/resource.html?uri=cellar%3A5c20aef7-fca4-11e5-b713-01aa75ed71a1.0001.02%2FDOC_2&format=PDF |date=20 April 2017 }} Eulex 6 April 2016 p 11 Accessed 19 April 2017</ref><ref>[http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/doc_centre/borders/docs/1_en_act_part1_v12.pdf Proposal for a regulation of the European parliament and of the council establishing an entry/exit system (EES) to register entry and exit data of third country nationals crossing the external borders of the member states of the European Union] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511142157/http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/doc_centre/borders/docs/1_en_act_part1_v12.pdf |date=11 May 2013 }} Europa p 2. Accessed 12 October 2013.</ref><ref>[http://www.statewatch.org/news/2012/mar/eeu-council-schengen-entry-exit-questionnaire-8552-add3-09.pdf Council of the European Union: questionnaire on the possible creation of a system of electronic recording of entries and exits of third country nationals in the Schengen area (reply from Greece)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120412182303/http://www.statewatch.org/news/2012/mar/eeu-council-schengen-entry-exit-questionnaire-8552-add3-09.pdf |date=12 April 2012 }} Statewatch 2013.</ref><ref>[http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-141_en.htm Smart borders for an open and secure Europe] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130304140502/http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-141_en.htm |date=4 March 2013 }} Europa.</ref>

== History ==
On 25 March 1957, the [[Treaty of Rome]] was completed. On 3 February 1958, the economic union of the [[Benelux]] countries was formed. Both agreements aimed to enable the free movement of people and goods across national borders. The Benelux countries, as a smaller group, were able to quickly implement the agreement. The [[European Communities]]' focus was on economic integration. It was not until the agreement of [[Saarbrücken]] was completed on 13 July 1984, that border controls between [[France]] and [[Germany]] were eased.

On 14 June 1985, France, Germany and three of the Benelux nations completed the [[Schengen Agreement]]. Border controls on people and goods between these nations were gradually relaxed. On 19 June 1990, the initial five nations were joined by Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Austria and five [[Nordic Passport Union]] countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.

On 21 December 2007, the Schengen border-free zone was enlarged to include Estonia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.

On 1 January 2023, the Schengen border-free zone was enlarged to include Croatia.

== Legal aspects and technical characteristics ==
SIS was created to maintain European security after 25 March 2001 when border security between fifteen nations was relaxed. The SIS requires Schengen nations to respect the legal force of the information it contains. It also requires the nations to respect the privacy and personal freedom of the people whose data is held according to national data laws. SIS's information processing system must be permanently connected to member nations' databases and must be updated in [[real-time computing|real-time]].

These commitments are supplemented by consultation procedures between the member nations. Discussions may take place about issues such as confirmation of information, variation of actions directed by SIS, questions of residency, and international warrants for arrest.

SIS is controlled by an authority composed of representatives of the member nations. Personal data protection is a key responsibility. At a technical level, the participating countries adopted a data-processing star architecture made up of a central site containing the reference database, known as C-SIS, for which the responsibility is entrusted to the French Republic by the CAAS, and a site by country, known as N-SIS, containing a copy of the database.

== Data ==
The type of data about people kept in SIS includes: requests for extradition; undesirability of presence in particular territory; minor age; mental illnesses; missing person status; a need for protection; requests by a judicial authority; and suspected of crime. The SIS also keeps data referring to lost, stolen and misappropriated firearms, identity documents, motor vehicles and banknotes.

Individuals listed in SIS may request data corrections or removal if the entry is incorrect or lacks sufficient justification. Applications must be submitted to the relevant national authority, often requiring supporting documentation such as court rulings or police reports. Processing times vary by country, and legal assistance can improve the chances of success, particularly in complex cases.

[[France]] is responsible for management of SIS and uses an automated system of data updates which occur every five minutes. The SIS automatically directs data to queries arriving via large national databases. Each member nation has an office responsible for SIS communications. SIS also has a function called "Supplementary Information Request at the National Entry" (SIRENE). The SIRENE office records a "hit" on a SIS data record and forwards further information to assist investigations.

== Police co-operation and legal mutual assistance ==
In addition to SIS and SIRENE, the Schengen convention ensured police co-operation and legal mutual assistance. Police of member nations can cooperate to prevent and identify crime (article 39); to continue surveillance across borders (article 40); to pursue across borders in certain circumstances (article 41); and to share information that is significant for the repression or the prevention of [[in flagrante delicto]] or threats to order and public safety (article 46). This allows execution of criminal judgements and extraditions where a national attempts to take refuge in another territory.

== System evolution ==
In November 2011, SIS1 was renewed for a second time. The main reason for renewal was to connect more nations.

In 2007, while developments were in progress, Portugal had offered the use of a version called "SISone4ALL" developed by SEF (Portugal's Border and Foreigners Service) and [[Critical Software]].<ref>[http://solutions.criticalsoftware.com/government/casestudy/sisone4all/ SISone4all] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110227092551/http://solutions.criticalsoftware.com/government/casestudy/sisone4all/ |date=27 February 2011 }} Critical software.</ref>

On 15 October 2010, Bulgaria and Romania joined SIS II for law enforcement cooperation.<ref>[http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32010D0365 council decision 29 June 2010 on the application of the provisions of the Schengen acquis relating to the Schengen Information System in the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania (2010/365/EU)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180910062511/https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32010D0365 |date=10 September 2018 }} Europa</ref>

On 9 April 2013, SIS II went live.<ref name="europa.eu"/><ref>[http://www.senat.fr/rap/l05-174/l05-174.html Proposition de résolution Le système d'information Schengen] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060213222917/http://www.senat.fr/rap/l05-174/l05-174.html |date=13 February 2006 }} Senat.fr</ref>

On 27 June 2017, Croatia joined SIS II for law enforcement cooperation.<ref>[http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32017D0733 Council decision (EU) 2017/733 of 25 April 2017 on the application of the provisions of the Schengen acquis relating to the Schengen Information System in the Republic of Croatia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404034541/https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32017D0733 |date=4 April 2019 }} Europa.</ref>

On 1 August 2018, Bulgaria and Romania gained full access to SIS.<ref name="2018/934">{{cite web |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32018D0934 |title=COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2018/934 of 25 June 2018 on the putting into effect of the remaining provisions of the Schengen acquis relating to the Schengen Information System in the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania |publisher=European Commission |access-date=1 August 2018 |archive-date=1 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801094352/https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32018D0934 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 1 January 2021, Ireland joined the law enforcement aspect,<ref name="RTE201218" /> with full access to SIS for law enforcement purposes from 15 March 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/ireland-officially-joins-the-schengen-information-system-sis-ii/ |first1=Shkurta |last1=Januzi |title=Ireland Officially Joins the Schengen Information System – SIS II|date=16 March 2021|website=SchengenVisaInfo.com|access-date=18 March 2021|archive-date=16 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316132308/https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/ireland-officially-joins-the-schengen-information-system-sis-ii/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 3 May 2022, the [[European Parliament]] approved a proposal to give Cyprus full access to SIS. The proposal then needed to be endorsed by the [[Council of the European Union]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://cyprus-mail.com/2022/05/03/cyprus-approved-access-to-schengen-information-on-people-entering-the-country/ | title=Cyprus approved access to Schengen information on people entering the country |website= Cyprus Mail |date=2022-05-03 |first1=Elias |last1=Hazou |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231201072953/https://cyprus-mail.com/2022/05/03/cyprus-approved-access-to-schengen-information-on-people-entering-the-country/ |archive-date= Dec 1, 2023 }}</ref>

On 1 January 2023, Croatia gained full access to SIS with joining the Schengen border-free zone.

On 25 July 2023, Cyprus gained full access to SIS.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2023/870 of 25 April 2023 on the application of the provisions of the Schengen acquis relating to the Schengen Information System in the Republic of Cyprus |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX%3A32023D0870 |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=Official Journal of the European Union}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Desku |first=Arta |date=2023-07-24 |title=Cyprus to Join Schengen Information System From July 25 |url=https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/cyprus-to-join-schengen-information-system-from-july-25/ |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=SchengenVisaInfo.com |language=en |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230724200116/https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/cyprus-to-join-schengen-information-system-from-july-25/ |archive-date= Jul 24, 2023 }}</ref>

In 2023, the UK was negotiating to rejoin SIS II, with access unlikely before the 2027/2028 fiscal year.<ref name=syal/>

==Brexit==
Use of the Schengen Information System is limited to members of the European Union and signatories of the Schengen Agreement Application Convention. While still a member of the EU but not of the Schengen Agreement, the United Kingdom had limited access to the SIS. This access ceased  from 1 January 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Brexit: Britain will be less secure without access to shared data|url=https://news.sky.com/story/brexit-britain-will-be-less-secure-without-access-to-shared-data-12172399 |date=24 December 2020  |first1=Alistair |last1=Bunkall |access-date=2020-12-30|website=Sky News|language=en|archive-date=28 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201228083034/https://news.sky.com/story/brexit-britain-will-be-less-secure-without-access-to-shared-data-12172399|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2020, the Security and Intelligence subcommittee of the [[House of Lords]], on hearing evidence by [[Home Office]] Minister [[James Brokenshire]], expressed concerns that failure of the (post-Brexit) [[trade negotiation between the United Kingdom and the EU]] could lead to worrying delays in access to counter-terrorism intelligence.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/jun/16/failure-of-brexit-talks-could-lead-to-terrorism-intelligence-delays-say-lords | title = Failure of Brexit talks could lead to terrorism intelligence delays, say Lords. Real-time access to EU police databases has not yet been agreed in the negotiations | work = [[The Guardian]] | author = Lisa O'Carroll | date = 16 June 2020 | accessdate = 16 June 2020 | quote = Lord Ricketts, a former diplomat and the chair of the committee, questioned the "coherence" of the United Kingdom’s Brexit approach. It was looking for a Canada-style agreement in trade but a specially close arrangement in security and justice, "an equivalent position to that which perhaps Schengen countries have, or EEA countries have like Norway, Iceland but no other country", he said. | archive-date = 16 June 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200616154919/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/jun/16/failure-of-brexit-talks-could-lead-to-terrorism-intelligence-delays-say-lords | url-status = live }}</ref>

In 2023 the United Kingdom gaining access to EU datasets was stated to be at "a very early stage", and was not expected to be completed before the 2027/2028 financial year.<ref name=syal>{{cite news| last=Syal | first=Rajeev | title=UK police and Border Force to remain locked out of EU database of criminals |newspaper=The Guardian | date=1 March 2023 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/mar/01/uk-police-and-border-force-to-remain-locked-out-of-eu-database-of-criminals |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230506211450/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/mar/01/uk-police-and-border-force-to-remain-locked-out-of-eu-database-of-criminals |archive-date= May 6, 2023 }}</ref>

On 5th May 2025, the EU once again ruled out giving the UK access to both SIS II and the EuroDAC fingerprint database, despite direct approaches from, and negotiations led by, the UK Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer. <ref> {{cite news| url = https://uk.news.yahoo.com/labours-eu-reset-plans-dealt-104546473.html | title = Labour's EU reset plans dealt major blow by Brussels as data sharing vetoed }} </ref>

== See also ==
*[[eu-LISA]]
* [[European Criminal Records Information System]] (ECRIS)
* [[Prüm Convention]]
* [[Schengen Agreement]]
* [[Visa Information System]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.sef.pt SEF (Portugal's Border and Foreigners Service)]

{{European migrant crisis}}

[[Category:Government databases of the European Union]]
[[Category:Law enforcement in Europe]]
[[Category:Schengen Area|Information System]]