The Schengen area is an area without internal borders, within which EU citizens and citizensin the associated countries as well as third country nationals staying legally in the EU can freely circulate without being subjected to border checks. Since 1985, the Schengen area has gradually grown and encompasses almost all EU Member States and quatre associated countries. Those countries are known as the “Schengen countries”.
While having abolished their internal borders, Schengen countries have tightened controls at their common external border on the basis of common rules to ensure the security of those living or travelling within the Schengen Area. This common set of rules is applicable to all Schengen countries is also known as the Schengen acquis. The cooperation amongst Schengen countries is supported by a number of information-sharing systems, also known as EU large scale IT systems.
These EU large scale IT systems contain a vast amount of personal data of non-EU nationals as well as of EU citizens. In order to adequately protect this data in these systems, the Schengen acquis foresees a number of specific rules on the protection of personal data. Specific information regarding data protection can be found on the pages dedicated to each of the systems:
- The Visa information system (VIS) allows Schengen countries to exchange visa data, in particular data on decisions relating to short-stay visa applications.
- The Schengen Information System (SIS) allows Schengen countries to exchange data on suspected criminals, on people who may not have the right to enter into or stay in the EU, on missing persons and on stolen, misappropriated or lost objects.
More information on the Schengen area can be found on the website of the European Commission (link).