European Digital Rights - Scheduled to start operating in June 2006, the Schengen Information System II (SIS II) that would allow the competent authorities in the Member States to obtain information regarding certain categories of persons and property, will be delayed, as it resulted from a meeting of ministers of the interior and ministers of justice from EU member states in Brussels.

The reasons given for the delay were related to legal and technical problems. Several European data protection commissioners who are supposed to approve of SIS II have shown resistance to the system considering there is not enough information of the way in which the collected data will be used by the police.

The degree of access of the police to the biometric data included in the new passports has not yet been established. From the technical standpoint, the database system, initially to be set up in Strasbourg by Steria Mummert Consulting and HP Belgium, now undertaken by Unisys and Microsoft has not yet been completed as the data base is supposed to contain all exist and entry data, which is a very difficult task.

The integration of the new EU members in the system in 2007 appeared as no longer realistic and the discussions are now whether to speed up the system or prepare it in stages.

In the opinion of Bernhard Marfurt, the Swiss Ambassador for EU, developing SIS II in stages might make it technically obsolete. "SIS II must above all keep pace with technical developments," he said.

At a first phase, this delay means that in 2007 travellers will still have to show their passports at the borders of EU with the new member states but effects are expected in the long run as well.

Events like the European Soccer Championship in 2008 could determine Switzerland and Austria to take the same attitude Germany took during the latest Soccer World Cup meaning reintroducing their border controls during the event. The reintroduction of border controls at EU borders in Germany was mainly aimed at stopping potential criminals, especially violent football fans, from entering the country. Schengen Information System II will experience a delay.

Lassen sich mit dem neuen Schweizer Pass auch Leute sprengen?