Schengen

One of the fundamental objectives of the European Union is to offer its citizens an area of freedom, security and justice without internal borders. The Schengen Convention was made to abolish controls on people at the internal borders, to harmonise controls at the external frontiers of the "Schengen area" and to introduce a common policy on visas. To facilitate the necessary controls that go along with internal freedom of movement, the Schengen system provides for other accompanying measures such as police and judicial cooperation. The most important of these is the Schengen Information System (SIS), a database accessible to authorised persons within the police/border guards and also to some extent at embassies/immigration offices. Today, the Schengen Convention has been incorporated into the EUs Treaties.

The integration of Schengen into the European Union made it necessary for Norway and Iceland, as non-EU members, to negotiate a new agreement, which was signed on 18 May 1999, providing for their "participation in the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis". A special institutional arrangement (The Mixed Committee) was set up to permit Norway and Iceland to participate at all levels, including political (Council), in the work of developing and maintaining the Schengen system.

The Ministry of Justice and Ecclesiastical Affairs has the main responsibility in Iceland for the Schengen cooperation. In Iceland the cooperation is, in addition to the Ministry, in the hands of the National Commissioner of the Police, the Directorate for Immigration and the Chiefs of Police especially at the borders, at the International Airport in Keflavík, in Reykjavík and Seyðisfjörður. Every police officer in every jurisdiction of Police (26) has access to the Schengen Information System. The purpose of the SIS is to enhance police cooperation. The Schengen Joint Supervisory Authority (JSA) ensures compliance with data protection rules. The Icelandic Data Protection Directorate participates in the work of the JSA. To ensure compliance with all Schengen rules the Mixed Committee conducts evaluations in the Member States. The Nordic States including Iceland were evaluated in 2005 and found to be applying the Schengen Acquis in a very satisfactory manner and practices even considered as best practice of application of the Schengen rules.

The task of the counsellor for Justice and Home Affairs in the Icelandic Mission to the EU is primarily focused on the participation in the Mixed Committee in the Council. In addition it involves communication with the EU presidency, the Council secretariat and the Commission. Iceland has concluded a number of agreements with the EU within the area of freedom, security and justice, linked or related to the Schengen cooperation, ensuring participation in Dublin and Eurodac, Europol, Eurojust and the European Border Agency (Frontex).

The Counsellor for Justice and Home Affairs is:

Kristrún Kristinsdóttir

Tel: +32 (0)2 238 50 21

Fax: +32 (0)2 230 69 38

Links

• The Icelandic Directorate of Immigration
• Police Website
• The European Union - Justice, Freedom and Security
• The Council of the European Union - Justice and Home Affairs