26/10/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 23 October, the European Commissioner for Justice, Security and Liberty, Jaques Barrot, confirmed that a test ("Milestone") would take place before the end of the year (most likely December) to verify the viability of the second-generation Schengen Information System (SIS II). In the event of a failure of this test, the hypothesis of switching over to an alternative exists, he said, pointing out that it was still too early to condemn SIS II. A number of Member States wanted the decision on abandoning SIS II to be the direct consequence of the results of the test, rather than a postponement of the test until January or February. Mr Barrot also indicated that the Visa Information System (VIS) would not be operational at the end of the year. A report will be drafted in mid-November on the reliability of the central system. As regards the setting in place of the national systems, "three Member States are of concern to us", he said, although he remains optimistic that the project will succeed. (B.C./trans.fl)