Article 1 X1

Regulation (EC) No 2424/2001 is amended as follows:

1. 1..

   the following sentence is added to Article 2:

   ‘ The development comprises the preparation of technical integration into SIS II, in particular of the Member States which have acceded to the European Union in 2004. ’ ;

2. 2..

   the following Article is inserted:

   ‘ Article 4A

   1.

   Without prejudice to the Commission's responsibility for the development of SIS II, the central unit of SIS II shall be located in Strasbourg (France) and the back-up central unit in Sankt Johann im Pongau (Austria) during the development of the system.

   2.

   France and Austria shall provide the appropriate infrastructure and means to host the central unit and the back-up central unit of SIS II respectively during the development of the system.

   3.

   The national authority providing for the infrastructure and means referred to in paragraph 2 may receive a Community grant for the preparation and maintenance of the site or for providing other services necessary for hosting SIS II during its development. ’ ;

3. 3..

   in Article 7, the second subparagraph is replaced by the following:

   ‘ It shall expire on 31 December 2008 . ’