Schengen: second generation information system SIS II, development. Initiative Belgium and Sweden

PURPOSE : to present a Belgian-Swedish initiative with a view to the adoption of a Council Decision on the development of the second generation Schengen information system (SIS II). CONTENT : in order to maintain public policy and public security, including national security, in the territories of the Member States, it is necessary for the Member States to have in place a joint information system, enabling the authorities designated by them to have access, by means of an automated search procedure, to alerts on persons and property for the purposes of police and customs checks to be carried out at external borders and elsewhere within their territory. The current information system serving shall be replaced by a new system, the Schengen information system II (SIS II), which shall allow for new Member States to be integrated into the system and for certain new functions to be carried out and which shall take account of developments in information technology. Moreover, in order to ensure the realisation of the objectives of the Community with regard to the free movement of persons in the absence of controls when crossing internal borders and the exercise of controls at external borders over the entry of third country nationals into the Community, it is necessary for the Member States to have in place a joint information system enabling the authorities designated by them to have access, by means of an automated search procedure, to alerts on third country nationals for the purpose of checks to be carried out at external borders and elsewhere within their territory, and for the purpose of examining visa applications and applications for residence permits. Lastly, it is proposed that the act be limited in time : 31 December 2006, at the same time as the financial perspectives. It should be noted that the regulation shall also concern Iceland and Norway considering they have also been involved in the fist SIS.�