SIS Supervision Coordination Group

The Schengen Information System II is a large-scale information system facilitating cooperation between national border control, customs and police authorities in the Schengen Area. SIS II gives a possibility to relevant authorities of Schengen Area countries to issue and search alerts concerning persons and objects.

The reasons for issuing an alert include: refusing entry to a person who does not have a right of entry or stay in the Schengen Area, locating or detaining a person in relation to whom a European Arrest Warrant has been issued, locating a missing person or locating a stolen or lost property such as car or passport. Alert in SIS II contains information on a specific person or object or clear instructions on what to do after locating the person or object.

SIS II is composed of a central system, a national system in each Member State and a communication infrastructure between the national system and particular national systems. Relevant Member States authorities enter, update and delete data in SIS II by means of their national systems. Before a relevant authority issues an alert, it has to establish whether a given case is significant enough to justify issuing this alert. Relevant authorities are also responsible for ensuring that the data are accurate, up-to-date end entered in SIS lawfully. After issuing an alert in SIS II, only relevant Member State shall be entitled to modify, correct, update or delete data.

The Schengen Information System II Supervision Coordination Group ("SIS II SCG") was set up by the SIS II Regulation and the SIS II Decision to ensure a coordinated supervision in the area of the protection of personal data processed by means of SIS.

The Group is made up of representatives of the national Supervisory Authorities of the Member States responsible for data protection and the European Data Protection Supervisor. Members of the Group meet at least twice a year to:

• Exchange relevant information,
• Discuss problems regarding the interpretation or the application of the SIS II legal framework;
• Analyse difficulties regarding the independent supervision or the exercise of the rights of data subject.
• Assist each other when carrying out audits and inspections,
• Draw up harmonised proposals for joint solutions and promote awareness of data protection rights.

A joint report of activities shall be sent to the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission and the Management Authority every two years.
More detailed information about the Schengen Information System Supervision Coordination Group can be found on its website.

Information on the exercise in the Republic of Poland of the rights of individuals whose data are processed in SIS can be found on the website of the Commander in Chief of the Police and on the website of the Personal Data Protection Office.

Renewed SIS

In order to improve SIS and extend its scope of application the European Commission presented three proposals of regulations on the establishment, operation and use of the System in the field of:

•  border checks
•  police cooperation and judicial cooperation in criminal matters
• return of illegally staying third-country nationals.

The regulations entered into force on 28 December 2018. Renewed SIS will be launched and becomes fully operational after completion of testing phases in Member States.