Lee A. Bygrave (red.) YULEX 2002 - Universitetet i Oslo

THE SCHENGEN INFORMATION SYSTEM IN
AUSTRIA: AN ESSENTIAL TOOL IN DAY-TO-
DAY POLICING AND BORDER CONTROL WORK? 1
STEPHEN K. KARANJA
Abstract
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 still 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.
1 Methodology
The interviews were carried out in Vienna between 26 February and 8
March 2001. 2 The persons interviewed were from the Austrian Data Protection
Commission (DPC) and the Ministry of the Interior. From the DPC,
1
This is a slightly modified version of a paper published in the Journal of Information, Law
and Technology, 2002, .
2
I would like to thank those interviewed for availing their time, and Professor Erich
Schweighofer, University of Vienna for making these interviews possible.