The Schengen Information System in Austria: An Essential Tool in Day to Day Police and Border Control Work?

This article discusses the Schengen Information System (SIS) in Austria. SIS is a joint information technology and communication system for exchange of information concerning wanted persons and objects. Its purpose is to allow checks on persons to be made quickly and efficiently at border controls in order to detect criminals and illegal immigrants moving into and from one Schengen country to another.

The article is based largely on interviews with key persons responsible for SIS in Austria, supplemented with background material from written literature and legal sources. The purpose of the interviews was to gather information on the functioning of SIS and the implementation of control mechanisms.

The general conclusions are that SIS is functioning well and has become an essential tool in day-to-day police and border control work. The control safeguards are also working well. However, there are a number of concerns that need to be addressed, while others are already being addressed. These concerns are discussed in detail as an evaluation of the effectiveness of SIS’ internal and external control and safeguards.

Karanja Stephen Kabera, ’The Schengen Information System in Austria: An Essential Tool in Day to Day Police and Border Control Work?’, Commentary in:The Journal of Information, Law and Technology2002 (1)