Communication from the Commission … Development of the Schengen Information System II

Summary:

The progressive establishment of an area of freedom, security and justice involves creating an area without internal frontiers. To this end, Article 61 EC requires the adoption of measures aimed at ensuring the free movement of persons in accordance with Article 14 EC, in conjunction with flanking measures on external border controls, asylum and immigration, as well as measures to prevent and combat crime.

Through the intergovernmental cooperation put in place by the Schengen Convention, the Member States taking part have adopted measures removing controls on persons at internal frontiers and allowing free movement for people of any nationality, together with all the flanking measures considered necessary for lifting controls at internal frontiers. These included harmonised controls and surveillance at external borders, harmonised visa policy, various forms of police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters, and the Schengen Information System (SIS).