Crossing at external borders of the States, Schengen cooperation. Annual reports 1998

PURPOSE : to present the Fourth Annual Report on the work of the Schengen Joint Supervisory Authority. CONTENT : the present report is based on the JSA's work over the period from March 1999 to February 2000. In a spirit of transparency and democratic openness, the JSA is anxious to account to as broad a public as possible for its constant effort to uphold the interests of individuals in the protection of their privacy. It shows that the supervisory body forms an indispensible final brick in the Schengen edifice. Both for the SIS security measures and in defending the interests of individual reported, or again fulfilling public information requirements, proposals and suggestions are now once more being put forward, on the basis of reports, recommendations and opinions. The desire to make a constructive contribution to the smooth working of the Schengen machinery, shared by all fellow delegates from national supervisory authorities and observers from the applicant countries, contrasts sharply at times with the unkind way in which the JSA is treated, especially as regards giving proper effect to and providing the necessary resources for its autonomy and strict independence. In addition, the report notes with satisfaction the clear wish of the Council to go on to establish a joint secretariat for all supervisory authorities in the European Police Sector (Schengen, Europol, the Customs Information System, etc.). This new future structure could provide the necessary resources for its autonomy and strict independence (refer to CNS/2000/804). �