COMMISSION DECISION
of 16 March 2007
laying down the network requirements for the Schengen Information System II (3rd pillar)
(2007/171/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty on European Union,
Having regard to Council Decision 2001/886/JHA of 6 December 2001 on the development of the second generation of the Schengen Information System (SIS II) (1), and in particular Article 4(a) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
In order to develop SIS II it is necessary to set out technical specifications concerning the communication network, its components, and the specific network requirements.
(2)
Appropriate arrangements, in particular as regards the elements of the uniform national interface located in Member States, should be put in place between the Commission and the Member States.
(3)
This Decision is without prejudice to the adoption in future of other Commission Decisions related to the development of SIS II, in particular on the development of the security requirements.
(4)
Both Council Regulation (EC) No 2424/2001 (2) and Decision 2001/886/JHA govern the development of the SIS II. In order to ensure that there will be one single implementing process for the development of SIS II as a whole, the provisions of this Decision should mirror the provisions of the Commission's Decision laying down the network requirements for SIS II to be taken in application of Regulation (EC) No 2424/2001.
(5)
The United Kingdom is taking part in this Decision, in accordance with Article 5 of the Protocol integrating the Schengen acquis into the framework of the European Union annexed to the EU Treaty and to the EC Treaty, and Article 8(2) of Council Decision 2000/365/EC of 29 May 2000, concerning the request of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to take part in some of the provisions of the Schengen acquis (3).
(6)
Ireland is taking part in this Decision in accordance with Article 5 of the Protocol integrating the Schengen acquis into the framework of the European Union annexed to the EU Treaty and to the EC Treaty, and Article 5(1) and 6(2) of Council Decision 2002/192/EC of 28 February 2002 concerning Ireland's request to take part in some of the provisions of the Schengen acquis (4).
(7)
As regards Iceland and Norway, this Decision constitutes a development of the provisions of the Schengen acquis within the meaning of the Agreement concluded by the Council of the European Union and the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway concerning the association of those two States with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis which fall within the area referred to in Article 1, point G of Council Decision 1999/437/EC (5) on certain arrangements for the application of that Agreement.
(8)
As regards Switzerland, this Decision constitutes a development of the provisions of the Schengen acquis within the meaning of the Agreement signed between the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation concerning the association of the Swiss Confederation with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis, which fall within the area referred to in Article 1, point G of Council Decision 1999/437/EC read in conjunction with Article 4(1) of Council Decision 2004/849/EC on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, and on the provisional application of certain provisions of that Agreement (6).
(9)
This Decision constitutes an act building on the Schengen acquis or otherwise related to it within the meaning of Article 3(1) of the Act of Accession.
(10)
The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee set up by Article 5(1) of Decision 2001/886/JHA,
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
Article 1
The technical specifications related to the design of the physical architecture of the communication infrastructure of the SIS II shall be as set out in the Annex.
Done at Brussels, 16 March 2007.