Exercise your rights for SIS II
Development of the Schengen Area
On 14 June 1985, five Member States and the Netherlands, signed an agreement to create a territory without borders and provide a common policy on temporary entry of persons and cross-border police co-operation. This became known as the ‘Schengen Area’. The name was taken from the name of the town in, on the border with and, where such agreement was signed.
Taking as a basis the Schengen Agreement on the gradual abolition of checks at common borders, on 19 June 1990, there was the signature of the Schengen Convention between the Governments of the States of the Benelux Economic Union, the Federal Republic of Germany and the French Republic. The contracting parties to the Convention and the Netherlands have decided to fulfil the resolve expressed in the Agreement to abolish checks at their common borders on the movement of persons and facilitate the transport and movement of goods at those borders. The intergovernmental co-operation expanded to include other Member States.
Malta joined Schengen in December 2007 by lifting its sea borders. Subsequently in March 2008, lifted its air borders rendering the Schengen Acquis fully operative. Being part of the Schengen zone means that Maltese citizens are free to travel to any other Schengen country without being subjected to border checks.
Facilitating free movement within internal borders of the Schengen Area had to be reconciled with specific measures aimed to strengthen security both at external borders and within the Schengen zone. This involved improving co-ordination between the police, customs and the judiciary and taking necessary measures to combat important problems, such as terrorism and organised crime. In order to make this possible, an information system known as the Schengen Information System was set up to exchange data on people’s identities and descriptions of objects which are either stolen or lost.
The Schengen Information System (SIS)
The SIS is the most widely used and largest information sharing system for security and border management in Europe that allows the competent authorities of participating Member States to enter and consult alerts on persons or objects.
A second technical version of the system, the SIS II went live on 9th April 2013. The SIS II is composed of a central system ("Central SIS II"), a national system (the "N.SIS II") in each Member State (the national data systems that will communicate data with the Central SIS II), and a communication infrastructure between the central system and the national systems providing an encrypted virtual network dedicated to SIS II data and the exchange of data, including supplementary information between the authorities responsible for similar data exchanges (SIRENE Bureaux).
The system establishes communication amongst all Member States and provides end-users with access to information in accordance with the applicable legal framework. It is a vital factor in the smooth running of the area of security, freedom and justice. It contributes to the implementation of the provisions on the free movement of persons and to judicial cooperation in criminal matters and police cooperation.
Legal Basis
The system assists the competent authorities in Europe to preserve internal security in the absence of internal border checks. The scope of SIS is defined in three legal instruments:
Regulation (EC) No 1987/2006 (Border control cooperation): SIS enables border guards and visa issuing and migration authorities to enter and consult alerts on third-country nationals for the purpose of refusing their entry into or stay in the Schengen area.
Council Decision 2007/533/JHA (Law enforcement cooperation): SIS supports police and judicial cooperation by allowing competent authorities to create and consult alerts on missing persons and on persons or objects related to criminal offences.
Regulation (EC) No 1986/2006 (Cooperation on vehicle registration) Vehicle registration services may consult SIS in order to check the legal status of the vehicles presented to them for registration. They only have access to SIS alerts on vehicles, registration certificates and number plates.
Regulation (EU) 2018/1860, Regulation (EU) 2018/1861 and Regulation (EU) 2018/1862 came into force on the 28th December 2019 and they will be completely operational as from December 2021. The new functionalities in the SIS are currently being implemented in different stages and these are expected to be completed by 2021.
Personal data processed in the SIS
Pursuant to the provisions of the SIS II legal framework, particularly Article 24 of Regulation 1987/2006 and Articles 26, 32, 34, 36, and 38 of Council Decision 2007/533/JHA, categories of information in the form of alerts concerning persons, objects, vehicles and documents are processed. When the alert concerns a person, the information can include:
(a) surname(s) and forename(s), name(s) at birth and previously used names and any aliases, which may be entered separately;
(b) any specific, objective, physical characteristics not subject to change;
(c) place and date of birth;
(d) sex;
(e) photographs;
(f) fingerprints;
(g) nationality(ies);
(h) whether the person concerned is armed, violent or has escaped;
(i) reason for the alert;
(j) authority issuing the alert;
(k) a reference to the decision giving rise to the alert;
(l) action to be taken;
(m) link(s) to other alerts issued in SIS II
The processing of sensitive personal data namely information revealing racial origin, political opinions or religious or other philosophical beliefs, as well as personal data concerning health or sexual life, is not allowed.
The SIS II legal framework lays down the reasons where an alert containing personal data may be inserted in the system. These are as follows:
- Alerts issued in respect of third-country nationals for the purpose of refusing entry or stay
- Alerts in respect of persons wanted for arrest for surrender or extradition purposes
- Alerts on missing persons
- Alerts in respect for persons sought for a judicial procedure
- Alerts on persons or objects for discreet and specific checks
- Alerts on objects for seizure or use as evidence in criminal proceedings
What are your rights in relation to your personal data processed in the SIS?
The SIS II legal framework lays down the rights of persons in relation to the personal data processed in the system and which could be exercised in accordance with the national law of the respective country, i.e. Data Protection (Processing of Personal Data by Competent Authorities for the Purposes of the Prevention, Investigation, Detection or Prosecution of Criminal Offences or the Execution of Criminal Penalties) Regulations (Link here) and Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (Link here) for purposes other than the prevention, investigation, detection or prosecution of criminal offences or the execution of criminal penalties. The citizen has the right to:
- request access to personal data relating to him/her which has been entered in the SIS;
- request the correction of factually inaccurate personal data relating to him/her or the deletion of his/her personal data in the case of unlawfully stored information;
- bring before the Courts or the authority competent under the national laws an action to correct, delete or obtain compensation in connection with an alert involving him/her.
How to exercise your rights?
In Malta, any individual has the right to request access, correction or deletion of his/her personal data by contacting directly the data controller which in this case is the authority responsible for the system at national level. The request shall be made in Maltese or English, using the following forms:
- Right to request access: Access Request to Personal Data Processed in the SIS
- Right to request deletion: Deletion Request of Personal Data Processed in the SIS
- Right to request rectification: Rectification Request of Personal Data Processed in the SIS
Such rights are also exercisable by submitting a formal request to the following address. Address: The Data Protection Officer, Legal Unit, Police Headquarters, Floriana Email: dpu.police@gov.mt Telephone: +356 21224001 Personal data may be delayed, restricted or omitted, for as long as this constitutes a necessary and proportionate measure in a democratic society with due regard for the fundamental rights and the legitimate interests of the natural person concerned in terms of the applicable law. In the eventuality of a restriction or refusal, the individual is to be informed in writing of the decision, including reasons for the decision, unless such communication could have a bearing on the work of the national competent authorities or on the rights and freedoms of other individuals. Skip to content
What is the role of the Information and Data Protection Commissioner in relation to your personal data processed in SIS?
The Information and Data Protection Commissioner is the national supervisory authority responsible for carrying out independent supervision of the data file of the national section of the SIS. The Commissioner is also responsible for checking that the processing and use of data entered in the SIS does not violate the fundamental human rights of the data subject.
Any individual may exercise his rights through the Commissioner, whereby the Commissioner shall make the necessary verifications concerning the processing of personal data.For this purpose, the Commissioner is empowered to have access and inspect the data file of the national section of the SIS.
The Office of the Commissioner may be reached on the following contact details:
Address: Information and Data Protection Commissioner
Floor 2, Airways House
High Street
Sliema, SLM 1549
Malta.
Telephone
+356 2328 7100
Email
idpc.info@idpc.org.mt
SIS Supervision Coordination Group
The SIS Supervision Coordination Group is a platform in which the data protection authorities responsible for the supervision of SIS, according to Article 46 of the Regulation (EC) 1987/2006 and Article 62 of Council Decision 2007/533/JHAcooperate in the framework of their responsibilities in order to ensure a coordinated supervision of SIS. The Coordination Group is composed of representatives from the national data protection authorities supported by a secretariat which is provided by the European Data Protection Supervisor. For more information about the group, click here.
Guide for exercising the right of access
The SIS Supervision Coordination Group has updated the guide for exercising the right of access in order to reflect the current legal framework. Similar guidance gives a comprehensive overview of the procedures applicable in exercising data subjects’ rights in each Member State. Click here to view the Guide for Exercising the Right of Access
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Żvilupp taż-żona Schengen
Fl-14 ta’ Ġunju 1985, ħames Stati Membri u l-Olanda, iffirmaw ftehim biex joħolqu territorju mingħajr fruntieri u jipprovdu politika komuni dwar id-dħul temporanju ta’ persuni u l-kooperazzjoni transkonfinali tal-pulizija. Din saret magħrufa bħala “ż-żona Schengen”. L-isem ittieħed mill-isem ta’ villaġġ żgħir fil-Lussemburgu, fuq il-fruntiera mal-Ġermanja u Franza, fejn il-Ftehim ta’ Schengen u l-Konvenzjoni ta’ Schengen ġew iffirmati fl-1985 u fl-1990 rispettivament.
Abbażi tal-Ftehim ta’ Schengen dwar it-tneħħija gradwali tal-kontrolli fil-fruntieri komuni, fid-19 ta’ Ġunju 1990, kien hemm l-iffirmar tal-Konvenzjoni ta’ Schengen bejn il-Gvernijiet tal-Istati tal-Unjoni Ekonomika tal-Benelux, ir-Repubblika Federali tal-Ġermanja u r-Repubblika Franċiża. Il-partijiet kontraenti għall-Konvenzjoni u l-Pajjiżi l-Baxxi ddeċidew li jissodisfaw ir-riżoluzzjoni espressa fil-Ftehim li jabolixxu l-kontrolli fil-fruntieri komuni tagħhom fuq il-moviment tal-persuni u jiffaċilitaw it-trasport u l-moviment tal-merkanzija f’ dawk il-fruntieri. Il-kooperazzjoni intergovernattiva espandiet biex tinkludi Stati Membri oħra.
Malta ssieħbet f’Schengen f’Diċembru tal-2007 billi neħħiet il-fruntieri tal-baħar tagħha. Sussegwentement f’Marzu 2008, Malta neħħiet l-fruntieri tal-ajru tiegħu u b’ hekk l-Acquis Ta’ Schengen sar kompletament operattiv. Li tkun parti miż-żona Schengen ifisser li ċ-ċittadini Maltin huma liberi li jivvjaġġaw lejn kwalunkwe pajjiż ieħor ta’ Schengen mingħajr ma jkunu soġġetti għal verifiki fuq il-fruntiera.
L-iffaċilitar tal-moviment liberu fi ħdan il-fruntieri interni taż-żona Schengen kellu jiġi rikonċiljat ma’ miżuri speċifiċi mmirati biex isaħħu s-sikurezza kemm fil-fruntieri esterni kif ukoll fiż-żona Schengen. Dan kien jinvolvi t-titjib tal-koordinazzjoni bejn il-pulizija, id-dwana u l-ġudikatura u t-teħid ta’ miżuri meħtieġa biex jiġu miġġielda problemi importanti, bħat-terroriżmu u l-kriminalita’ organizzata. Sabiex dan ikun possibbli, ġiet stabbilita sistema ta’ informazzjoni magħrufa bħala s-Sistema ta’ informazzjoni ta’ Schengen għall-iskambju ta’ data dwar l-identitajiet u d-deskrizzjonijiet tan-nies ta’ oġġetti li jew jinsterqu jew jintilfu.
Is-Sistema ta’ informazzjoni ta’ Schengen (SIS)
Is-SIS hija l-aktar sistema użata u l-akbar sistema ta’ kondiviżjoni ta’ informazzjoni għall-ġestjoni tas-sikurezza u tal-fruntieri fl-Ewropa li tippermetti lill-awtoritajiet kompetenti tal-Istati Membri parteċipanti biex jidħlu u jikkonsultaw twissijiet dwar persuni jew oġġetti.
It-tieni verżjoni teknika tas-sistema, is-SIS II marret live fid-9 ta’ April 2013. Is-SIS II hija magħmula minn sistema ċentrali (“SIS II Ċentrali”), sistema nazzjonali (is - “N.SIS II”) f’ kull Stat Membru (is-sistemi nazzjonali tad-data li se jikkomunikaw id-data mas-SIS II Ċentrali), u infrastruttura ta’ komunikazzjoni bejn is-sistema ċentrali u s-sistemi nazzjonali li jipprovdu netwerk virtwali kriptat iddedikat għad-data tas-SIS II u l-iskambju tad-data, inkluża informazzjoni supplimentari bejn l-awtoritajiet responsabbli għal skambji simili tad-data (l-Uffiċċji SIRENE).
Is-sistema tistabbilixxi komunikazzjoni fost l-Istati Membri kollha u tipprovdi lill-utenti finali b’aċċess għall-informazzjoni skont il-qafas legali applikabbli. Huwa fattur vitali fit-tmexxija bla xkiel tal-qasam tas-sigurta’, tal-liberta’ u tal-Ġustizzja. Huwa jikkontribwixxi għall-implimentazzjoni tad-dispożizzjonijiet dwar il-moviment liberu tal-persuni u għall-kooperazzjoni ġudizzjarja f’materji kriminali u l-kooperazzjoni tal-pulizija.
Bażi legali
Is-sistema tgħin lill-awtoritajiet kompetenti fl-Ewropa biex jippreservaw is-sikurezza interna fin-nuqqas ta’ kontrolli fil-fruntieri interni. Il-kamp ta’ applikazzjoni tas-SIS huwa definit fi tliet strumenti legali:
Ir-Regolament (KE) Nru 1987/2006 (kooperazzjoni fil-kontroll tal-fruntieri): Is-SIS tippermetti lill-gwardji tal-fruntiera u lill-awtoritajiet tal-ħruġ tal-viżi u tal-migrazzjoni biex jidħlu u jikkonsultaw twissijiet dwar ċittadini ta ’pajjiżi terzi għall-fini li jirrifjutaw id-dħul jew is-soġġorn tagħhom fiż-żona Schengen.
Id-Deċiżjoni tal-Kunsill 2007/533/JHA (Kooperazzjoni fl-infurzar tal-Liġi): Is-SIS tappoġġja l-kooperazzjoni tal-pulizija u dik ġudizzjarja billi tippermetti lill-awtoritajiet kompetenti joħolqu u jikkonsultaw twissijiet dwar persuni nieqsa u dwar persuni jew oġġetti relatati ma’ reati kriminali.
Is-servizzi tar-reġistrazzjoni tal-vetturi tar-Regolament (KE) Nru 1986/2006 (Kooperazzjoni dwar ir-reġistrazzjoni tal-vetturi) jistgħu jikkonsultaw lis-SIS sabiex jiċċekkjaw l-istatus legali tal-vetturi ppreżentati lilhom għar-reġistrazzjoni. Għandhom aċċess biss għat-twissijiet tas-SIS dwar il-vetturi, iċ-ċertifikati ta ’reġistrazzjoni u l-pjanċi tan-numri.
Ir-Regolament (UE) 2018/1860, ir-Regolament (UE) 2018/1861 u r-Regolament (UE) 2018/1862 daħlu fis-seħħ fit-28 ta ’Diċembru tal-2019 u se jkunu kompletament operattivi minn Diċembru tal-2021. Il-funzjonalitajiet il-ġodda fis-SIS bħalissa qed jiġu implimentati fi stadji differenti u dawn huma mistennija li jitlestew sal-2021.
Data personali pproċessata fis-SIS
Skont id-dispożizzjonijiet tal-qafas legali tas-SIS II, b ’mod partikolari l-Artikolu 24 tar-Regolament 1987/2006 u l-Artikoli 26,32,34,36, u 38 tad-Deċiżjoni tal-Kunsill 2007/533/JHA ĠAI, jiġu pproċessati kategoriji ta’ informazzjoni fil-forma ta ’twissijiet dwar persuni, oġġetti, vetturi u dokumenti. Meta t-twissija tikkonċerna persuna, l-informazzjoni tista’ tinkludi:
- il-kunjom/ijiet u l-isem/ijiet, l-isem ta’ mat-twelid u l-ismijiet użati qabel u kwalunkwe psewdonimu, li jistgħu jiddaħħlu separatament;
- kwalunkwe karatteristika fiżika speċifika, oġġettiva u mhux soġġetta għal bidla;
- il-post u d-data tat-twelid;
- sess;
- ritratti;
- marki tas-swaba ’;
- ċittadinanza (jiet);
- jekk il-persuna kkonċernata hijiex armata, vjolenti jew ħarbitx;
- ir-raġuni għat-twissija;
- l-awtoritajiet li joħorġu t-twissija;
- referenza għad-deċiżjoni li wasslet għat-twissija;
- azzjoni li għandha tittieħed;
- link (s) ma’ twissijiet oħra maħruġa fis-SIS II
L-ipproċessar ta’ data personali sensittiva jiġifieri informazzjoni li tiżvela oriġini razzjali, opinjonijiet politiċi jew twemmin reliġjuż jew filosofiku ieħor, kif ukoll data personali dwar is-saħħa jew il-ħajja sesswali, mhix permessa.
Il-qafas legali tas-SIS II jistabbilixxi r-raġunijiet fejn twissija li jkun fiha data personali tista’ tiddaħħal fis-sistema. Dawn huma kif ġejjin:
- Twissijiet maħruġa fir-rigward ta’ ċittadini ta’ pajjiżi terzi għall-fini ta’ rifjut ta’ dħul jew soġġorn;
- Twissijiet fir-rigward ta’ persuni mfittxija għall-arrest għal finijiet ta’ konsenja jew estradizzjoni;
- Twissijiet dwar persuni nieqsa;
- Allerti fir-rigward ta’ persuni mfittxija għal proċedura ġudizzjarja;
- Twissijiet dwar persuni jew oġġetti għal verifiki diskreti u speċifiċi;
- Twissijiet dwar oġġetti għall-qbid jew l-użu bħala evidenza fi proċedimenti kriminali.
X’ inhuma d-drittijiet tiegħek fir-rigward tad-data personali tiegħek ipproċessata fis-SIS?
Il-qafas legali tas-SIS II jistabbilixxi d-drittijiet tal-persuni fir-rigward tad-data personali pproċessata fis-sistema u li tista’ tiġi eżerċitata skont il-liġi nazzjonali tal-pajjiż rispettiv, jiġifieri r-Regolamenti dwar il-Protezzjoni tad-data (ipproċessar ta’ data personali mill-awtoritajiet kompetenti għall-finijiet tar-Regolamenti dwar il-prevenzjoni, l-investigazzjoni, is-sejbien jew il-Prosekuzzjoni ta’ reati Kriminali jew l-eżekuzzjoni ta’ pieni Kriminali) (link hawnhekk) u r-Regolament (UE) 2016/679 (link hawnhekk )għal finijiet oħra għajr il-prevenzjoni, investigazzjoni, sejbien jew prosekuzzjoni ta’ reati kriminali jew l-eżekuzzjoni ta’ pieni kriminali. Iċ-ċittadin għandu d-dritt li:
- jitlob aċċess għal data personali relatata miegħu/magħha li tkun iddaħħlet fis-SIS;
- jitlob il-korrezzjoni ta’ data personali fattwalment mhux preċiża relatata miegħu jew it-tħassir tad-data personali tiegħu/tagħha fil-każ ta’ informazzjoni maħżuna illegalment;
- tressaq quddiem il-Qrati jew l-awtoritajiet kompetenti skont il-liġijiet nazzjonali azzjoni biex tikkoreġi, tħassar jew tikseb kumpens b ’rabta ma’ allert li jinvolviha.
Kif teżerċita d-drittijiet tiegħek?
F’Malta, kull individwu għandu d-dritt li jitlob aċċess, korrezzjoni jew tħassir tad-data personali tiegħu billi jikkuntattja direttament lill-kontrollur tad-data li f’ dan il-każ hija l-awtorita’ responsabbli mis-sistema fuq livell nazzjonali. It-talba għandha ssir bil-Malti jew bl-Ingliż, bl-użu tal-formoli li ġejjin:
- Dritt għal talba għal aċċess: talba għal aċċess għal data personali pproċessata fis-SIS
- Dritt għal talba għal tħassir: talba għal tħassir ta ’data personali pproċessata fis-SIS
- Dritt għal talba għal rettifika: talba għal rettifika ta ’data personali pproċessata fis-SIS
Dawn id-drittijiet jistgħu jiġu eżerċitati wkoll billi titressaq talba formali fl-indirizz li ġej.
L-Uffiċjal tal-Protezzjoni tad-Data,
Taqsima legali,
Kwartieri Ġenerali tal-Pulizija,
Pjazza Kalcedonju
Floriana, Malta
email: dpu.police@gov.mt
telefown: +356 21224001
Id-data personali tista’ tiġi ttardjata, ristretta jew titħalla barra, sakemm din tikkostitwixxi miżura neċessarja u proporzjonata f’soċjeta’ demokratika b’kunsiderazzjoni xierqa għad-drittijiet fundamentali u l-interessi leġittimi tal-persuna fiżika kkonċernata f’termini tal-liġi applikabbli. Fil-każ ta’ restrizzjoni jew rifjut, l-individwu għandu jiġi infurmat bil-miktub dwar id-deċiżjoni, inklużi r-raġunijiet għad-deċiżjoni, sakemm tali komunikazzjoni ma jistax ikollha effett fuq ix-xogħol tal-awtoritajiet nazzjonali kompetenti jew fuq id-drittijiet u l-libertajiet ta ’individwi oħra.
X’ inhu r-rwol tal-Kummissarju għall-informazzjoni u l-Protezzjoni tad-data fir-rigward tad-data personali tiegħek ipproċessata fis-SIS?
Il-Kummissarju għall-informazzjoni u l-Protezzjoni tad-data huwa l-awtorita’ nazzjonali ta’ sorveljanza responsabbli għat-twettiq ta’ superviżjoni indipendenti tal-fajl tad-data tat-taqsima nazzjonali tas-SIS. Il-Kummissarju huwa responsabbli wkoll għall-kontroll li l-ipproċessar u l-użu tad-data mdaħħla fis-SIS ma jiksrux id-drittijiet fundamentali tal-bniedem tas-suġġett tad-data.
Kull individwu jista’ jeżerċita d-drittijiet tiegħu permezz tal-Kummissarju, fejn il-Kummissarju għandu jagħmel il-verifiki meħtieġa dwar l-ipproċessar ta’ data personali. Għal dan il-għan, il-Kummissarju għandu s-setgħa li jkollu aċċess u jispezzjona l-fajl tad-data tat-taqsima nazzjonali tas-SIS.
L-Uffiċċju tal-Kummissarju jista’ jintlaħaq fuq id-dettalji ta’ kuntatt li ġejjin:
Indirizz: Kummissarju għall-Informazzjoni u l-Protezzjoni tad-Data
Sular 2, Airways House
Triq għolja
Sliema, SLM 1549
Malta.
Telefown : +356 2328 7100
Posta elettronika : idpc.info@idpc.org.mt
Il-Grupp ta’ Koordinazzjoni tas-superviżjoni tas-SIS
Il-Grupp ta’ Koordinazzjoni tas-superviżjoni tas-SIS huwa pjattaforma li fiha l-awtoritajiet tal-protezzjoni tad-data responsabbli għas-superviżjoni tas-SIS, skont l-Artikolu 46 tar-Regolament (KE) 1987/2006 u l-Artikolu 62 tad-Deċiżjoni tal-Kunsill 2007/533/JHA jikkooperaw fil-qafas tar-responsabbiltajiet tagħhom sabiex tiġi żgurata superviżjoni koordinata tas-SIS. Il-Grupp ta’ Koordinazzjoni huwa magħmul minn rappreżentanti mill-awtoritajiet nazzjonali tal-protezzjoni tad-data appoġġati minn segretarjat li huwa pprovdut mill-Kontrollur Ewropew għall-Protezzjoni tad-data. Għall aktar informazzjoni dwar il-grupp ikklikja hawn.
Gwida għall-eżerċizzju tad-dritt ta’ aċċess
Il-Grupp ta’ Koordinazzjoni tas-superviżjoni tas-SIS aġġorna l-gwida għall-eżerċizzju tad-dritt ta’ aċċess sabiex jirrifletti l-qafas legali attwali. Gwida simili tagħti ħarsa ġenerali komprensiva lejn il-proċeduri applikabbli fl-eżerċitar tad-drittijiet tas-suġġetti tad-data f’kull Stat Membru.
Ikklikkja hawn biex tara l-Gwida għall-eżerċitar tad-dritt ta’ aċċess.