Councils decide on more efficient data exchange in the Schengen area
Published: Wednesday, Sep 4th 2024, 10:50
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The law enforcement authorities of the countries in the Schengen area are to be able to exchange data with each other more efficiently. This should help in the fight against cross-border crime and terrorism. The Swiss parliament can now decide on this.
On Wednesday, the Federal Council adopted the dispatch on the necessary amendments to the Schengen Information Exchange Act. In doing so, it intends to implement a directive adapted by the EU Commission in May 2023. Switzerland is an associated Schengen member.
The bill is about a more efficient exchange of information. The Federal Office of Police (Fedpol), as the contact point for inquiries from other Schengen countries, should be available around the clock for case-related inquiries, as the Federal Council writes. Fedpol already fulfills this role today.
The EU directive sets deadlines - according to the Federal Council, these are also already being applied in principle. Urgent requests for information that Fedpol can access itself must be answered within eight hours. If Fedpol has to ask an authority, the deadline is three days. And in the case of non-urgent requests, the answer must be provided within seven days.
Europol is to receive more information. Police information is to be exchanged in the Schengen area primarily via the network for the secure exchange of information operated by this authority. The Federal Council writes that the project was welcomed by the majority in the consultation process.
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