Bulgaria, SIS and SIRENE

Hopefully Bulgaria will become part of Schengen Agreement in the spring of next year. The Schengen zone allows for border free travelling and transport of goods. Besides the free movement of people allowed by the lack of border controls, the Schengen zone is also associated with cooperation between police, judicial and customs authorities. The Schengen cooperation between all 27 of its member states allows for the free movement of people. The cooperation among all authorities is a necessity that emerged with the abolition of the internal borders. That is why was introduced the Schengen Information System, which forms the largest database on protecting the public security on the world. It allows for cooperation between the judicial authorities and the police and helps the management of the external border control. Bulgaria uses the Schengen Information System since the fall of 2010.

The Schengen Information System allows for the entries on missing or wanted persons, stolen or lost property and entry bans. The system could be accessed immediately by the police officers all over the countries that form the Schengen zone. Everything is done with one purpose – to help authorizes do their job in protecting people and fighting crime.

Besides SIS, was introduced the Supplementary Information Request at the National Entry or SIRENE, which allows for exchange of additional information between the states. SIRENE provides supplementary information on whether actions have been taken that concern wanted persons, missing persons, stolen vehicles, etc. The focus of the supplementary information system is on everything that goes on in Europe without its internal borders.