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The European Union has declined the United Kingdom's request to regain access to key crime and illegal migration databases, notably the Schengen Information System (SIS) and Eurodac. These databases are vital for real-time alerts on criminal suspects and for storing fingerprints of illegal migrants, respectively. This decision marks a significant setback for Prime Minister Keir Starmer's efforts to enhance UK-EU security cooperation post-Brexit.
Prior to Brexit, UK authorities conducted over 600 million real-time checks on the SIS in 2019 alone. The loss of access has hampered the UK's ability to swiftly identify and respond to cross-border criminal activities. Although the UK has developed the International Law Enforcement Alerts Platform (I-LEAP) to interface with Interpol data, this system is slower and less comprehensive compared to the SIS.
The EU's refusal is grounded in legal constraints, as granting a non-member state access to these databases could set a precedent and raise data protection concerns. Despite ongoing negotiations, the EU remains firm on this stance.
This impasse also affects other areas of UK-EU relations, including discussions on youth mobility schemes and broader security cooperation. While both sides continue to explore alternative avenues for collaboration, the lack of access to these critical databases poses challenges to the UK's efforts in managing illegal migration and enhancing border security.
