VZCZCXRO2226
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHBS #0443 0861223
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 271223Z MAR 09
FM USEU BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS BRUSSELS 000443 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
TAGS: CVIS CMGT EUN
SUBJECT: STATUS OF SCHENGEN INFORMATION SYSTEM II 
AND VISA INFORMATION SYSTEM 
 
SUMMARY 
 
¶1.  (SBU)  Delays to the upgrading of the current Schengen 
Information System (SIS), the EU's primary system for cross-border 
sharing of lookout information, may result in the project being 
scrapped entirely.  Numerous technical and political obstacles have 
delayed the project since 2003 when the EU passed legislation to 
update the information database.  The current SIS, established in 
1995, collects police and judicial data, such as information on 
thefts and missing people, from across several European states 
(including some outside the EU and Schengen) and is used as the 
primary database for border and visa checks.  The so-called "SIS II" 
would allow for the inclusion of biometric data, such as 
fingerprints and photographs.  The plan has been stalled several 
times and was expected to be implemented in September 2009, which 
now seems unlikely, drawing calls from some member states to drop 
the project.  END SUMMARY 
 
IMPETUS FOR UPGRADE 
 
¶2.  (U)  The primary motivation for developing SIS II is the 
inclusion of biometric data in the criminal information shared among 
member states.  This biometric data would be used to assist in the 
identification of visa applicants and those travelling across the 
EU's borders.  In addition to the biometric data, the new 
application of SIS would allow for member states to exchange alerts 
(with the equivalent legal authority as arrest warrants) and 
strengthen data protection standards.  Further, the proposed changes 
were expected to enhance the system's capacity for further 
integration of new member states.  Meanwhile, the new Schengen 
members (Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, 
Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Malta, and Switzerland) have joined a 
SIS 1+ (aka SISone4all) application-an enlarged capacity version of 
SIS. 
FATE OF SIS II UNCLEAR 
 
¶3.  (SBU)  One significant delay included a legal challenge by an 
unsuccessful bidder for the contract to develop the system. 
Although the case did not reverse the successful bid, the legal 
proceeding slowed the project.  Member states also could not agree 
on the location of the central system.  Thus, political, not just 
technical, issues have prevented a quick implementation of SIS II. 
 
¶4.  (SBU)  Some EU leaders, especially interior minister Maria 
Fekter of Austria, reportedly consider that the European Commission 
has mismanaged the project.  The Council adopted resolutions 
February 26 that the September 2009 target date was unrealistic and 
mandated a feasibility study to be conducted on the future of the 
program.  The European Commission has already paid 28 of the 68 
million budgeted for the project, which still may be scrapped. 
While the Commission, especially Commissioner for Freedom, Justice, 
and Security Jacques Barrot, acknowledged problems in the project in 
its presentation to the Schengen Mixed Committee on February 26, it 
still believes the project is viable, without having to start from 
scratch.  By May 2009, the Commission must submit a report on the 
findings from the feasibility study to the Council as well as 
assessments of alternative plans, such as upgrading SIS 1+. 
 
¶5.  (U)  At the 26 February 2009 Justice and Home Affairs Council, 
ministers agreed that the fate of the project would be decided in 
June 2009 after the Commission's report.  At that time, the 
ministers will decide whether to push forward with the project at 
full strength, implement only those aspects of SIS II that are 
operational at the time, or drop the project entirely. 
 
¶6.  (U)  The Commission in March will announce a new management plan 
for the EU JHA databases, including SIS and Visa Information System 
(VIS).  At this time, it is unclear whether the decision will be for 
a single entity to administer both SIS and VIS or whether separate 
entities will oversee the databases.  The former would streamline 
data sharing with the possibility that SIS II system would be 
modeled or merged with the VIS.  The VIS was created in 2007 to 
promote the common asylum policy by allowing border management 
officials to share information on visa applications to the EU among 
member states and to standardize the case management and processing 
of visa applications.  The VIS will contain biometric data, such as 
fingerprints and photographs, as well as other information on visa 
applicants.  The VIS will be rolled out slowly, by the end of 2009. 
If the decision is the latter, Europol may manage SIS and Frontex 
VIS. 
 
COMMENT 
 
¶7.  (SBU)  Whether the U.S. will have any access, now or in the 
future, to information in SIS I, SIS 1+, or SIS II remains unclear. 
Whichever direction the projects takes, the U.S. will press for 
greater access to the information in cooperation on judicial 
matters. 
 
MURRAY