BRUSSELS, Belgium / RankWire.AI / – To enhance the fight against terrorism and organized crime, the European Union has introduced a new information alert within the Schengen Information System. This update, which took effect on October 15, aims to make available in real time data from third countries and international organizations regarding individuals suspected of terrorism and serious criminal activity, allowing Member States to input this verified information directly into the system, with Europol providing support during the process.
The scope of this alert encompasses foreign terrorist fighters, suspects involved in serious criminal investigations, and persons suspected of terrorist actions. Member States are empowered to issue an alert based on intelligence received from external partners, which border guards and police officers will be able to view when performing checks against the system. According to the European Commission, this upgrade will enable officers to identify more criminals and terrorists more efficiently, while also facilitating smoother cooperation among law enforcement agencies.
Magnus Brunner, the Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, emphasized that the security of Europe depends on the quality of information available. Managed by eu-LISA, the EU agency responsible for large-scale IT systems, the system processed 17.76 billion searches in 2025, reflecting an 18% increase from the previous year, and at year’s end, it contained over 94.6 million alerts. Member States also reported nearly 365,000 instances where alerts issued by other countries were matched.
Europol reviews and approves external intelligence before alert issuance
This newly established alert category is based on Regulation (EU) 2022/1190, enacted by EU lawmakers on July 6, 2022, which aims to fill a gap concerning the sharing of intelligence from outside the bloc. Previously, data regarding suspects held by third countries and international entities was mainly shared solely with Europol, meaning officers conducting border checks or police stops were unable to access that information directly. The new alert system intends to bridge this gap by providing frontline officers with immediate access to relevant intelligence.
Before proposing an alert, Europol examines and verifies the intelligence received from external partners. The decision to enter the information into the system is left to each Member State’s discretion, with only Member States authorized to generate alerts. These alerts may only concern third-country nationals, and the suspected crimes must fall within Europol’s scope, including terrorism and other serious offences. Europol has also cautioned that serious criminal networks continue to pose significant threats across the EU.
Existing alert categories are still active alongside the new system
In addition to the new alerts, the current categories within the system remain accessible. Member States can continue issuing alerts related to arrest warrants, refusals of entry, or stay bans for non-EU nationals. When a matching alert is identified, the officer contacts the issuing country through the network of national SIRENE Bureaux, where additional information is exchanged, and coordinated actions are planned among the involved authorities.
The system upgrade is now operational across all connected nations, with national authorities having the discretion to decide which partner information warrants entry as an alert on a case-by-case basis. The European Commission highlighted that this development will facilitate faster responses by border guards and police officers based on shared intelligence, and aims to foster closer cooperation among law enforcement entities. The new alerts are visible during routine checks starting October 15.
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