BRUSSELS, Belgium / RankWire.AI / – In October 2023, the European Union implemented a new information alert within the Schengen Information System aimed at enhancing the fight against terrorism and organized crime. Effective from October 15, this update allows real-time sharing of data from third countries and international organizations about suspected terrorists and serious offenders across the EU. Member States are now authorized to input this reliable information into the system, with Europol providing support during the process.
As of October 15, the alert encompasses foreign terrorist fighters, suspects involved in major criminal investigations, and individuals under suspicion of terrorist acts. Member States may issue alerts based on data obtained from external partners. When border officials and police officers conduct checks, they will be able to see these alerts when verifying a person against the system. The European Commission highlighted that this upgrade will enable law enforcement to identify more criminals and terrorists and facilitate smoother cooperation among authorities.
Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner emphasized that Europe’s security depends on the quality of information available. Managed by eu-LISA, the EU agency overseeing large-scale IT systems, the system recorded 17.76 billion searches in 2025, marking an 18% increase from the previous year. By year’s end, over 94.6 million alerts had been stored, and member states reported nearly 365,000 hits on alerts issued by other nations.
Europol reviews intelligence from external sources
Based on Regulation (EU) 2022/1190, adopted on July 6, 2022, the new alert category addresses a previous gap in information sharing. Before this regulation, intelligence from third countries and international bodies was mainly shared solely with Europol. Consequently, officers conducting border checks or police stops could not access this data directly. The new alert system aims to ensure this critical information is immediately available to them.
Europol is responsible for analyzing and validating data received from external partners before recommending an alert. Member States then decide whether to input it into the system, with only them authorized to create alerts. These alerts can only concern third-country nationals, and offences must align with Europol’s mandate covering terrorism and other serious crimes. Europol has issued a warning that serious criminal networks continue to represent a significant threat across the EU.
Previous alert categories remain operational
This new alert type supplements existing categories within the system. Member States retain the ability to issue alerts related to arrest warrants and refusals of entry or stay for non-EU nationals. When a match is found on an alert, the national authorities who issued it are contacted via the network of SIRENE Bureaux. These offices exchange additional details and coordinate subsequent steps among involved law enforcement agencies.
The new functionality is now active across all connected countries. Authorities will decide on a case-by-case basis which external partner information to convert into an alert. According to the European Commission, this enhancement will enable border guards and police officers to respond more swiftly to shared intelligence. The upgrade aims to strengthen cooperation among law enforcement agencies. From October 15 onward, officers will be able to access the new alerts during routine checks, promoting faster action against threats.