Information sharing in the EU and the Schengen area to be reformed – aiming for efficient interoperability of information systems

The interoperability project for information systems in the EU and the Schengen area is progressing – the first element was introduced in autumn 2025. The reform will proceed according to the agreed timetable, and the last elements are expected to become operational around 2030.

Efficient management of borders and migration in the European Union and the Schengen area has relied on centralised large-scale information systems that have been in use for years:

• Schengen Information System (SIS), containing alerts on persons wanted for arrest and on entry bans
• Visa Information System (VIS)
• EU fingerprinting database, containing the fingerprints of asylum seekers (Eurodac). 

Interoperability of information systems is the ability of information systems to exchange data. The European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA) has been in charge of the operational management of these information systems. The above-mentioned EU systems will be updated to meet current operational needs, to comply with the legislation on interoperability, and to form an interoperable whole in cooperation with the EU Member States and eu-LISA. The most significant reforms concern Eurodac and the Visa Information System. The reform of Eurodac will be completed during 2026, and the reform of the Visa Information System is expected to be completed around 2029.

In addition, three other EU-wide information systems will be created: 

• Entry/Exit System (EES)
• European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) 
• European Criminal Records Information System for third-country nationals (ECRIS-TCN). 

Stronger border security and smoothly flowing border traffic as key goals

The aim of the EU-wide interoperability effort is to strengthen security in parallel with a smooth flow of border traffic. Once the systems become operational, national authorities are better able to detect security threats, intensify controls at external borders, and combat identity fraud and illegal migration. 

Interoperability of EU-wide information systems will not only increase security, it will also make travelling easier within the European Union. For example, border checks of third-country nationals will be faster, and data on their border crossings will be immediately available to all responsible authorities.

The first of the new systems to become operational was the Entry/Exit System (EES) in autumn 2025. It will be deployed gradually and will be fully operational in spring 2026. 

The EES was introduced on a limited basis in Finland at Helsinki Airport, and later at the airports in Lapland. Use of the system will be expanded gradually, and the EES will be in full operation in April 2026. The EES stores passenger data only on non-EU nationals. This data consists of the passenger’s personal data, the time and place of crossing the Schengen external border, and the time and place of exit from the country.

The EES will be complemented by the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), which will start operations in autumn 2026. Non-EU nationals travelling to the Schengen area will need to submit their travel information in the system before their journey begins.

Application of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum to begin in information systems in June 2026

The EU's centralised database for asylum seekers Eurodac will be introduced in its revised form on 12 June 2026. A gradual introduction, similar to that used for the EES, will be applied to the deployment. The revised Eurodac will be fully operational in December 2026. The new functionalities are part of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum from 2024. 

The aim of the system is to support the systematic management of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers entering the Schengen area, and to create a fair mechanism for sharing responsibility between Member States.

Following the introduction of the European Criminal Records Information System for third-country nationals (ECRIS-TCN), authorities responsible for legal registers will cooperate closely with other EU Member States to ensure a smooth exchange of information. 

Once set up in spring 2026, ECRIS-TCN will enable more efficient requests for and disclosure of criminal records information between Member States. The system is designed to cover third-country nationals and stateless persons, and to direct requests to the Member States where judgments have been issued. The system will provide a clearer and more comprehensive picture of any entries in the criminal records a person may have.

Technical components enable combining of data from multiple systems

Technical solutions are referred to as interoperability components. 

Interoperability of EU-wide information systems will enable competent authorities, including border guards, police officers, and visa and immigration authorities, to access data faster. In addition, data on third-country nationals in the EU will be more reliable and comprehensive than before. It will be easier to identify persons who are staying in the EU illegally or who are suspected of criminal offences. 

The EU-wide interoperability framework relies on four new technical components:

1. Shared Biometric Matching System (sBMS) for comparing biometric data stored in one EU system, such as facial images and fingerprints, with biometric identifiers stored in other EU systems and finding similarities. This component was introduced in spring 2025.
2. European Search Portal (ESP) for searching multiple EU information systems simultaneously using either personal data or biometric data as search parameters. This component will be introduced in spring 2026.
3. Common Identity Repository (CIR) for storing the personal data, biometric data and travel document data on third-country nationals available in EU information systems. This component will be introduced in spring 2026.
4. Multiple Identity Detector (MID) for automatically checking matches in another EU information system when new personal data is registered. The aim is to identify either unintentional or fraudulent multiple identities.

A central repository for reporting and statistics (CRRS) will also be introduced in addition to the four basic components. The CRRS will produce statistics and analytics on interoperable EU-wide information systems. 

These new solutions for the information systems and technical components will enable a transition from outdated silo-based systems to new kinds of holistic approaches, while fully respecting the original objectives and data protection. Interoperability of information systems improves cooperation between authorities, increases the security of information systems, and makes travelling easier for third-country nationals

Changes mainly concern third-country nationals and are visible to travellers at the Schengen external borders

Apart from the Schengen Information System, the future interoperable EU information systems will only contain data on third-country nationals. The most noticeable change for individual citizens is that the passports of third-country nationals will no longer be stamped at external borders, as border-crossing data will be stored digitally in the EU-wide Entry/Exit System (EES). Another new feature is the introduction of a travel authorisation procedure for third-country nationals, which will streamline the border crossing process.