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Summaries of EU Legislation

  • Archived: true

    • eu-LISA: managing IT systems in the field of border and migration controls

     

    SUMMARY OF:

    Regulation (EU) No 1077/2011 establishing a European agency for the operational management of large-scale IT systems in the area of freedom, security and justice

    WHAT IS THE AIM OF THIS REGULATION?

    • It formally establishes eu-LISA, the agency responsible for managing the EU’s large-scale information technology (IT) systems relevant to freedom, security and justice.
    • It also defines the legal status of the agency, its tasks and its internal management structure (governance and internal organisation).

    KEY POINTS

    eu-LISA’s core mission is to:

    • provide EU countries with high-quality solutions for the existing large-scale IT systems and others that may be developed in the future;
    • build trust among all actors involved and ensure that the best available technology, subject to cost-benefit analysis, is used for the systems at all times;
    • grow as a centre of excellence.

    A secure and uninterrupted service for large-scale IT systems

    eu-LISA’s main operational task is to ensure that these IT systems are kept functioning 24/7. It provides a secure environment for the continuous operation of 3 EU information technology systems essential for safeguarding the Schengen area and border management and for the implementation of asylum and visa policies, namely:

    • Eurodac (EU asylum dactyloscopic database) which, by comparing fingerprints, helps determine responsibility for examining asylum applications in the EU. The 28 EU countries, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland as associated countries, use the system;
    • SIS II (second generation Schengen information system) which allows information exchanges between national border control, customs and police authorities to ensure a high level of security within the Schengen area. EU countries (except Ireland, Croatia and Cyprus) and the 4 associated countries use the system. The UK operates only the law enforcement aspect of the SIS;
    • VIS (visa information system) which supports the implementation of the common EU visa policy. It allows Schengen countries to exchange visa information, i.e. decisions relating to applications for short-stay visas to visit or transit through the Schengen area. EU countries (except Bulgaria, Ireland, Croatia, Cyprus, Romania and the UK) and the 4 associated countries use the system.

    eu-LISA is also responsible for:

    • the continuous and secure exchange of data between national authorities and eu-LISA operators and the cooperation between relevant EU law enforcement bodies;
    • the design, development, initiation and implementation of new systems;
    • implementing pilot projects at the request of the European Commission;
    • safeguards for the protection of citizens’ data held in the IT systems.

    Structure and governance

    eu-LISA is legally and financially autonomous. Its seat is in Tallinn (Estonia). Its operational management is carried out in Strasbourg (France) and a backup site is located in Sankt Johann im Pongau (Austria).

    Its administrative and management structure comprises a Management Board, an Executive Director and advisory groups on SIS II, VIS and Eurodac.

    European Entry/Exit System

    In 2017, the EU adopted Regulation (EU) 2017/2226 creating a new IT system, the Entry/Exit System (EES), to improve controls at the external borders of the Schengen area. eu-LISA is given the task of developing the EES and ensuring its operational management.

    Report

    The Commission presented its report evaluating the operation of eu-LISA since its establishment. The report’s conclusions were broadly positive mentioning that eu-LISA is efficient, growing in importance and has established itself as a reliable provider of operational management of the SIS, VIS and Eurodac.

    FROM WHEN DOES THIS REGULATION APPLY?

    It has applied since 21 November 2011. eu-LISA started operations on 1 December 2012.

    BACKGROUND

    For more information, see:

    MAIN DOCUMENT

    Regulation (EU) No 1077/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2011 establishing a European Agency for the operational management of large-scale IT systems in the area of freedom, security and justice (OJ L 286, 1.11.2011, pp. 1-17)

    Successive amendments to Regulation (EU) No 1077/2011 have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

    RELATED DOCUMENTS

    Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the functioning of the European Agency for the operational management of large-scale IT systems in the area of freedom, security and justice (eu-LISA) (COM(2017)346 final, 29.6.2017)

    Regulation (EU) 2017/2226 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2017 establishing an Entry/Exit System (EES) to register entry and exit data and refusal of entry data of third-country nationals crossing the external borders of the Member States and determining the conditions for access to the EES for law enforcement purposes, and amending the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement and Regulations (EC) No 767/2008 and (EU) No 1077/2011 (OJ L 327, 9.12.2017, pp. 20-82)

    last update 21.06.2018

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