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.