What is the Schengen Information System (SIS)?
The Schengen Area is a large part of the European continent in which checks at common internal borders have been lifted. The participating countries apply common rules for checks at the external borders of the Schengen Area, as well as for the issue of visas and cooperation between police and judicial services in criminal matters (see the link below for a list of Schengen countries).
The Schengen Information System (and the second generation of the system − SIS) is at the heart of Schengen cooperation. It is an information system that allows national border control, customs and police authorities responsible for checks at the external Schengen border as well as within the Schengen Area to circulate alerts about wanted or missing people and objects such as stolen vehicles and documents.
SIS II therefore, continues the important role of compensating for the abolition of internal border checks and facilitates the free movement of people within the Schengen Area. SIS II provides information on individuals who do not have the right to enter or stay in the Schengen Area, or on those who are sought in relation to criminal activities. SIS II also contains information on missing persons, in particular children or other vulnerable individuals who are in need of protection. Details of certain objects are also recorded in SIS II, for example, cars, firearms, boats and identity documents that may have been lost or stolen or used to commit a crime.
In essence, a customs, police, judicial or relevant administrative authority in one country may issue an ‘alert’ which describes the person or object being sought. Reasons for issuing an alert are:
- to refuse entry to persons who do not have the right to enter or stay in the Schengen territory;
- to find and detain a person for whom a European Arrest Warrant has been issued;
- to assist in locating individuals as requested by judicial or law enforcement authorities;
- to find and protect a missing person;
- to find stolen or lost property.