Home affairs ministers adopted two decisions concerning the establishment, operation and use of the second generation Schengen Information System (SIS II). These decisions fix the date of application of decision 2007/533/JHA and regulation 1987/2006 on 9 April 2013.

During the Council on 7-8 March, The Council also had:

• A state of play discussion on the full application of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania.

• A presentation by the Commission of its "Smart Borders Package", tabled on the 28 February 2013. This package aims at using new technology to speed-up, facilitate and reinforce border check procedures for foreigners travelling to the EU

• A briefing by the Counter Terrorism Coordinator, the Commission and the European External Action Service on the security situation in the Sahel/Maghreb and the implications for the EU internal security.

The Mixed Committee (the EU plus Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland), meeting in the margins of the Council, looked at two decisions concerning the establishment, operation and use of the second generation Schengen Information System (SIS II) and had a state of play discussion on the full application of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania.  Furthermore, the Committee took note of the Commission presentation of its "Smart Borders Package".

More resultats and details in the press release of the Council of the European Union.