This document is an excerpt from the EUR-Lex website
Interoperability between EU information systems in the field of freedom, security and justice
SUMMARY OF:
WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATIONS?
The regulations aim to improve checks at the EU’s external borders, allow for better detection of security threats and identity fraud and help in preventing and combating illegal immigration.
KEY POINTS
Scope
The 2 interoperability regulations cover:
- 3 existing centralised EU information systems for borders and security – the Schengen information system (SIS), the visa information system (VIS) and the European system for the comparison of fingerprints of asylum applicants (Eurodac);
- 3 centralised EU information systems under development – the Entry/Exit System (EES), the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) and the European Criminal Records Information System – Third Country Nationals;
- data from the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol).
The EU information systems in freedom, security and justice are managed by the European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice.
Components
The regulations set up the following interoperability components:
- a European search portal allowing competent authorities to search multiple information systems simultaneously, using both biographical and biometric data;
- a shared biometric matching service, operational since 19 May 2025 as set by Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/875, enabling the searching and comparing of biometric data (fingerprints and facial images) from several EU information systems;
- a common identity repository containing biographical and biometric data of non-EU nationals available in several EU information systems;
- a multiple identity detector enabling the detection of multiple identities across different EU information systems.
Access
- The regulations do not change the rights of access to the individual EU information systems, but will ease and improve information-sharing.
- They provide for a new 2-step approach to grant law enforcement authorities access to the EES, VIS, ETIAS and Eurodac:
- initial searches would be carried out on a ‘hit/no hit’ basis;
- if a ‘hit’ were obtained, law enforcement authorities could then access any further information needed, in line with the respective rules and safeguards.
FROM WHEN DO THE REGULATIONS APPLY?
They have applied since .
BACKGROUND
- Regulation (EU) 2019/817 amends Regulations (EC) No 767/2008, (EU) 2016/399, (EU) 2017/2226, (EU) 2018/1240, (EU) 2018/1726 and (EU) 2018/1861 and Council Decisions 2004/512/EC and 2008/633/JHA.
- Regulation (EU) 2019/818 amends Regulations (EU) 2018/1726, (EU) 2018/1862 and (EU) 2019/816.
For further information, see:
- IT systems to fight crime and secure EU borders (Council of the European Union).
MAIN DOCUMENTS
Regulation (EU) 2019/817 of the European Parliament and of the Council of on establishing a framework for interoperability between EU information systems in the field of borders and visa and amending Regulations (EC) No 767/2008, (EU) 2016/399, (EU) 2017/2226, (EU) 2018/1240, (EU) 2018/1726 and (EU) 2018/1861 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Decisions 2004/512/EC and 2008/633/JHA (OJ L 135, , pp. 27–84).
Successive amendments to Regulation (EU) 2019/817 have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.
Regulation (EU) 2019/818 of the European Parliament and of the Council of on establishing a framework for interoperability between EU information systems in the field of police and judicial cooperation, asylum and migration and amending Regulations (EU) 2018/1726, (EU) 2018/1862 and (EU) 2019/816 (OJ L 135, , pp. 85–135).
See consolidated version.
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