European information systems
The Member States of the European Union (EU) exchange personal data to monitor the borders of the Schengen area and to carry out police and judicial tasks. Such as issuing visas, determining which Member State is examining an asylum application or detecting and prosecuting criminal offences. The competent authorities in the Member States (such as police, investigative services and judicial authorities) exchange this data through different information systems.
On this page
The following systems to exchange information are in place:
- Schengen Information System (SIS): this system contains information on alerts within the Schengen area, such as data on wanted or missing persons or on stolen vehicles.
- Eurodac: this system contains fingerprints of, inter alia, persons applying for asylum in an EU Member State.
- Visa Information System (VIS): this system contains data for issuing visas.
- Customs Information System (CIS): this system contains data to enforce customs regulations.
The EU is also implementing a number of new information systems. In addition, several existing systems are being adapted.
Supervision
European information systems process (sensitive) personal data. Incorrect processing can have major consequences for people.
It is therefore important that the use of these systems is properly monitored. The protection of personal data is a fundamental right.
This supervision of European information systems is the responsibility of the European data protection authorities, including the Dutch Data Protection Authority (AP).