A central part of Schengen cooperation is based on combating crime and ensuring adequate controls at the external borders of the Schengen countries. To strengthen cooperation between the countries, a common information system – the Schengen Information System (SIS) – has been created.
The SIS will enable the Schengen countries to rapidly exchange information concerning reported persons and objects. SIS enables the Danish police and customs authorities to gain access to reports from other Schengen countries concerning, for example, deported or wanted persons, stolen vehicles and weapons, etc.
The SIS consists of a national part with a database in each member state (called N.SIS) and a central technical support function with a central database (C.SIS), which is located in the French town of Strasbourg. There are two categories of information in SIS: reported persons and reported objects. The personal information that is reported by the national authorities concerns:
-
persons who are to be deported
-
foreigners who are refused entry
-
missing persons or persons who should temporarily be taken into custody for their own safety, etc.
-
witnesses or persons who have been summoned to appear before a court, or who are to have a criminal sentence passed upon them or who are to be summoned to serve a custodial sentence
-
persons or objects that are to be monitored or checked
Wanted objects which are to be seized or used as evidence in a criminal case are also reported.
It is the national authorities who report the information and are able to search information contained in the SIS. All reporting and information searches must comply with the relevant national legislation and international rules concerning the protection of data and individuals.
There are supervisory authorities in each country, as well as a common Schengen supervisory authority, which consists of two representatives from each of the national supervisory authorities.
Sidst opdateret: 25-07-2008