BRUSSELS, Belgium / RankWire.AI / – Authorities across the European Union now have access to live intelligence from external partners on suspected terrorists. A new alert feature in the Schengen Information System became operational on October 15. This allows Member States to input trusted data received from third countries and international bodies. The information pertains to individuals suspected of terrorism or involved in serious crimes. Europol assists national agencies in integrating this data into the system.
The alert covers foreign fighters and individuals suspected of engaging in terrorist acts. It also includes suspects under investigation for serious crimes. Member States can issue these alerts based on the information received from external partners. The European Commission highlighted that this change will enable officers to detect more terrorists and criminals. It also aims to enhance cooperation among law enforcement agencies across the EU.
Magnus Brunner, the Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, emphasized that Europe’s security depends heavily on the quality of the information it receives. The database is a key component of broader EU counterterrorism efforts. According to eu-LISA, there were around 17.7 billion searches in the system during 2025, which is an 18% increase from 2024. The agency, responsible for managing the system, reported storing over 94.6 million alerts by the end of 2025.
Closing the intelligence gap with partners
Regulation (EU) 2022/1190, adopted on July 6, 2022, forms the legal basis for this update. It amended rules on police and judicial cooperation concerning the system’s use. Previously, information about third-country suspects was mainly shared with Europol. Ground officers had no direct access to this data. The new alert system aims to present this information directly during checks.
Europol reviews and verifies the data’s reliability before suggesting an alert. Each Member State can decide whether to activate the alert after its own assessment. Only national authorities can input information alerts. These alerts concern third-country nationals suspected of crimes within Europol’s scope, such as terrorism and serious organized crime linked to high-threat criminal networks operating in Europe.
Maintaining alerts for arrest warrants and entry bans
This new category does not replace existing alerts. Member States can continue issuing alerts based on arrest warrants. They may also maintain alerts related to entry or stay refusals. When a match occurs, the national SIRENE Bureau contacts its counterpart in the issuing country. They exchange additional details and agree on the next steps.
The new procedure is effective from October 15 across all connected countries. National authorities will now decide which external partner information to convert into alerts. The European Commission stated that this upgrade will aid border guards and police in identifying more suspects. Officers will see these alerts during routine checks both at borders and within the Schengen zone. Europol will continue supporting Member States in managing partner data.