To Örebro University

Borderless Europe raises the problem of increased security deficit. One of its segments may be counterbalanced by the control of immigration flow at the external borders that consists of three endeavours: the common border control policy, the common visa policy and the common asylum policy. The aim of the current research is to understand internal security and migration policies of the European Union through observing eu-LISA, the sole European Agency being a law enforcement large-scale IT system. Observing what kind of social preferences are reflected through the Agency, the EU internal security and migration policies can be more sophisticatedly characterised. The primary question is stretched by analysing all relevant law enforcement large-scale IT systems, i.e. those operating in the area of freedom, security and justice.

For the analysis, a methodological tool is developed proposing the relative measurement of three indicators such as accountability for acts, respect of human rights standards and transparent operation. Indicators are examined through the development process of the units of analysis (institutionalist approach) and through analysing the interactions among them and their environment (functionalist approach).

It is also conjectured in line with the proposed methodological tool that analysing the above three indicators the relationship of the examined law enforcement large-scale IT system with social beneficiality can be determined. Since it is a double conjecture, i.e. indirect inference, it shall be challenged to be proven. Testing this projection capacity, the tool is applied to comparable law enforcement large-scale IT systems planned to operate in the area of freedom, security and justice.

The received results characterise reflected social preferences and social beneficiality if presumptions and limitations are accepted. In this way, the proposed methodological tool may be used for social measurement related to law enforcement large-scale IT systems.

The Gabčikovo-Nagymaros Project is not just a dispute between Hungary and Slovakia. It had political and historical consequences before, during and after the regime change. Firstly, the complexity of prior events – which led to the escalation of the debate – is outlined. Thus, it is unavoidable to understand the concerns and claims of the parties. Then, the questions submitted to the International Court of Justice and the given answers are analysed while also pointing out the legal consequences of the Judgement.In conclusion, the factors are summarized, answering why it is still an unresolved international dispute.

It took more than ten years to get SIS II on track. Thousands of working hours were devoted to development of the newest, i.e. second generation of the Schengen Information System (SIS II) until it has become operational on 9th April, 2013.

The abolishment of internal border checks and common procedures at external borders is keep on fostering European decision-makers to establish large-scale IT systems in the area of freedom, security and justice. The decrease of security deficit by control of immigration flow consists of three endeavours: common border control policy, common visa policy and common asylum policy. SIS helps common border control policy of the borderless Europe’s home affairs.

The aim of the paper is to analyse and evaluate the development of SIS focusing on the latest achievements making SIS II work. The SIS of which basic system is operational since March 1995 is a special large-scale IT system that allows competent authorities to obtainin formation regarding certain categories of persons, vehicles and objects, i.e. it is a useful tool in relation to law enforcement. Information systems are highly important for the border security strategy, since among others systematic data gathering and data exchange of information concerning (mainly but not exclusively) third country nationals happen through them. The observation of SIS’s operation dynamics, difficulties and synergies (with eu-LISA, PNRs and the smart borders initiative) gives a frame of reference to evaluate the phases of SIS’s creation.

The paper like a case study has a special focus on the additional tasks of the Hungarian public administration, since solely a well-embodied structure could complement national efforts efficiently.

The abolishment of the internal border checks and the common procedures at the external bordersfosters the decision-making of the European Union to establish large-scale IT systems in the area of freedom,security and justice. The decrease of the security deficit by the control of immigration flow consists of threeendeavours: the common border control policy, the common visa policy and the common asylum policy. The aimof this paper is to analyse and evaluate the development of the operational management of large-scale IT systemsin the area of freedom, security and justice. The development process of these systems is not more than theirintegration into the so-called IT Agency. This new regulatory agency was established in January 2012. It hasmerged the operational management tasks of the further developed version of SIS (the SIS II), VIS and EURODACand it is flexible to add other existing and potential new systems. Hence, the added-value of the IT Agency is to beassessed, since new technologies shall be harnessed to meet the requirements of enhancing security and facilitatingtravel at the external borders.

The Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia acceded to the Schengen Agreement in December 2007. The closing of the border-crossing points involved provoked many to point out the exceptional significance of this event. Some saw in this one of the last stages in the healing of divisions in Europe. In practice, inhabitants of the CEE countries can now travel with ease the likes of which they had never known before; they are enjoying opportunities that many of them could not even have dreamed of. One can assume that inhabitants of the Visegrad countries will soon take the lack of checks and clearances at the EU internal borders for granted. Similarly, the majority of them got used to the facilities introduced earlier very quickly. First, they did not need visas for West European countries. Next, they could go there without a passport – with just an ID. And now, there are no borders to speak of. The opposite is true of those living in Eastern Europe though. Citizens of countries such as Belarus, Moldova, Russia, or Ukraine find visiting the EU, and especially Visegrad countries, increasingly more difficult. The enlargement of, first, the EU, and then, the Schengen Zone, involved the tightening of controls at the new EU external borders, and at the same time of the visa regime followed by the new EU Member States vis-à-vis their Eastern neighbours. The inhabitants of East European countries encounter more and more difficulties in this respect: higher costs of obtaining a visa, stricter requirements to be met, etc. For many of them, travel to the EU is beyond reach now. Thus, this healing of divisions is not tantamount to the end of the division of Europe as such. Our publication shows that this division is both the problem of the past, and of the present. Therefore, the book is divided into two parts: “THEN” and “NOW”. Both of these parts deal with the problems encountered by Europeans in connection with travelling. The problem is discussed though Introduction within the context of two different periods and two separate geographical areas.