Division 1 THE SCHENGEN INFORMATION SYSTEM (SIS) AND THE NATIONAL SIRENE BUREAUX

The SIS, together with the cooperation of the SIRENE bureaux, set up pursuant to the provisions of Title IV of the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement of 14 June 1985 on the gradual abolition of checks at common borders (Schengen Convention)^f1 constitutes an essential tool for the application of the provisions of the Schengen acquis as integrated into the framework of the European Union.

The Schengen Information System (SIS) shall provide access to alerts on persons and objects to the following authorities:

1. (a)

   authorities responsible for border checks;

2. (b)

   authorities carrying out and coordinating other police and customs checks within the country;

3. (c)

   national judicial authorities, inter alia, those responsible for the initiation of public prosecutions in criminal proceedings and judicial inquiries prior to indictment, in the performance of their tasks, as set out in national legislation;

4. (d)

   authorities responsible for issuing visas, the central authorities responsible for examining visa applications, authorities responsible for issuing residence permits and for the administration of legislation on third-country nationals in the context of the application of the Union acquis relating to the movement of persons;

5. (e)

   authorities responsible for issuing vehicle registration certificates.

Europol and Eurojust also have access to certain categories of alerts^f2. Europol may access data entered in accordance with Article 95 (alerts for arrest), Article 99 (alerts for discreet surveillance or specific check) and Article 100 (alerts on objects for seizure or use as evidence in criminal proceedings). Eurojust may access data entered in accordance with Article 95 (alerts for arrest) and Article 98 (alerts for a judicial procedure).

The SIS is made up of separate components: the technical support function (C.SIS) and the national sections (N.SIS, one for each Member State), connected by a network (SISNET). The SIS operates on the principle that the national systems cannot exchange computerised data directly between themselves, but instead only via the central system (C.SIS).

However, it is necessary for the Member States to be able to exchange supplementary information, either on a bilateral or multilateral basis, as required for implementing certain provisions of the Schengen Convention, and to ensure full application of Title IV of the Schengen Convention for the SIS as a whole.