Coordinated supervision

The Visa Information System (VIS) was established for exchange of visa data between Member States. Its purpose is to facilitate the visa application procedure, to prevent 'visa shopping' and fraud, to facilitate checks at border crossing points and identity checks within the territory of the

Member States, and to contribute to the prevention of threats to their internal security. For this purpose, VIS ensures a central repository of data concerning all short-stay visas in the Schengen countries.

In order to ensure coordinated supervision of the VIS and the national systems, pursuant to Art. 43 of the Regulation 767/2008 representatives of the national data protection authorities and the European Data Protection Supervisor cooperate and meet usually twice a year within the VIS Supervision Coordination Group (VIS SCG).

VIS SCG consists of EU Members States' authorities along with observers. Additionally, the national supervisory authorities of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland take part in the work of the Group, as their countries participate in the VISA Information System as well.

Members of the Group meet at least twice a year to:

Share its experiences;

Discuss problems regarding the interpretation or the application of the VIS legal framework;

Analyse difficulties regarding the independent supervision or the exercise of the rights of data subject;

Assist each other when carrying out audits and inspections;

Draw up harmonised proposals for joint solutions and promotes awareness of data protection rights.

A joint report of activities shall be sent to the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission and the Management Authority every two years.
More detailed information about the VIS SCG can be found on its website.

Information on the exercise in the Republic of Poland of the rights of individuals whose data are processed in the VIS can be found on the website of the Commander in Chief of the Police and the website of the Personal Data Protection Office.