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Dutch parliament: Schengen agreement

01 March 1992

On 30 January the Dutch parliament debated the ratification of the Schengen agreement. The debate was overshadowed by the Christian Democrats (CDA, together with social democrats PvdA in the coalition) attempt to press through a general mandatory identification for all citizens upon request of any police officer. They are now expected to settle on a compromise, with only "risk groups" such as hooligans, fare dodgers, people in unregistered work who dodge taxes) having to identify themselves. MPs asked the cabinet to reopen discussions with the other governments on ameliorating "Schengen" on democratic control, citizens rights of appeal and privacy protection, but there is little chance that the partners are willing to break the agreements, which are now expected to come into practice in April 1993. Parliament did bargain for an important clause though, when it demanded that any major move by the executing Schengen Committee should be reported to Parliament at least two months in advance, which would give it adequate time to react. MPs will make the final decision on Schengen in June, and they are expected to agree without enthusiasm. Meanwhile the German Bundestag has also given the green light on Schengen.

SIS to start in 1993

The Dutch Centrale Recherche Informatiedienst (CRI - Central Criminal Intelligence) announced in late January that the Schengen Information System (SIS) is expected to become operational in all the participating countries on March 1, 1993. The national SIS (NSIS) computers are called "national Sirene": (Supplementary Information REquest at the National Entries). In Holland a team of 17 people is working continuously on the development of NSIS, which is estimated at dfl 11.2 million.