BRUSSELS, Belgium / RankWire.AI / – Border officials and law enforcement across the European Union now have immediate access to intelligence shared by external partners regarding terrorist suspects. This improvement was implemented through a new alert feature in the Schengen Information System, which took effect on October 15. It enables Member States to input trusted data obtained from third countries and international organizations. The information primarily involves suspected terrorists and serious criminals. Europol assists national authorities in integrating this information into the system.
This alert capability encompasses foreign terrorist fighters and individuals believed to be involved in terrorist activities. It also applies to suspects under investigation for serious crimes. Member States have the authority to activate the alert based on data received from external partners. According to the European Commission, this update will enhance law enforcement’s ability to identify more criminals and terrorists. Furthermore, it aims to strengthen cooperation among law enforcement agencies throughout the EU.
Magnus Brunner, the Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, emphasized that Europe’s security depends heavily on the quality of information available. The database remains a core instrument in the broader EU counterterrorism strategy. In 2025, authorities conducted approximately 17.7 billion searches within it, representing an 18% increase from 2024, according to eu-LISA. The agency, responsible for managing the system, reported that over 94.6 million alerts were stored at the end of 2025.
Closing the gap in partner intelligence
The legal framework supporting this development is Regulation (EU) 2022/1190, adopted on July 6, 2022. It amended existing rules regulating police and judicial cooperation through the system. Previously, information held by partners about third-country suspects was mainly shared only with Europol, leaving officers conducting on-the-ground checks without direct access to this data. The new alert system aims to present that information directly during checks.
Europol initially reviews the shared information and verifies its reliability before suggesting an alert. Each Member State then independently determines whether to activate the alert after their own validation. Only national authorities have the authority to input alerts. These alerts are specifically applicable to third-country nationals suspected of offenses aligned with Europol’s mandate, such as terrorism and serious crimes linked to high-threat criminal networks operating within Europe.
Maintaining existing arrest and entry ban alerts
This new alert category does not supersede any existing alerts in the system. Member States can still issue alerts based on arrest warrants, and they may continue to record alerts concerning entry refusals or residence bans. When a match occurs, the national SIRENE Bureau contacts its counterpart in the country that issued the alert, sharing additional information and coordinating subsequent actions.
Effective from October 15 across all connected countries, this update allows national authorities to decide which external partner information to convert into alerts. The European Commission stated that this enhancement will assist border guards and police officers in recognizing more suspects. Officers will view these alerts during routine border checks and within the Schengen zone. Europol will persist in supporting Member States with managing partner data.