New Rules on Reinforced Schengen Information System Enter into Force

New rules to strengthen the Schengen Information System (SIS) - proposed by the Commission in December 2016 and adopted earlier this year - are entering into force today.

The SIS is Europe's most widely used information sharing system for security and border management. Consulted over 5 billion times by national authorities in 2017, the upgraded database will help border guards to better monitor who is crossing the EU's borders; support police and law enforcement in capturing dangerous criminals and terrorists; and offer greater protection for missing children and vulnerable adults, in line with the new data protection rules.

Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos said: "We are closing a critical security gap today in the EU. Member States will have an obligation to introduce terrorism alerts into the reinforced Schengen Information System. Anyone posing a threat should not go unnoticed anymore: the interoperability of SIS with our other information systems on security, borders and migration in the near future will make sure that all the dots are properly connected on our radar screens."

Commissioner for the Security Union Julian King said: "The SIS is a key tool for security in the EU, allowing national authorities to catch criminals and terrorists all over Europe. The new obligation to create SIS alerts will help make Europe safer - especially when it comes to tackling terrorism - as part of our wider efforts to strengthen information sharing and make our information systems work together more effectively."

As of today, new rules on alerts related to terrorism apply: