19/11/2018 (Agence Europe) – On Monday 19 November, the EU Council validated the new rules of the Schengen Information System (SIS), proposed at the end of 2016, which introduce new categories of alerts to be integrated into the system, particularly in relation to terrorism, return decisions for illegal immigrants and child abduction. The European Parliament validated its position in October (see EUROPE 12124) and the EU Council last June (see EUROPE 12044) a few days after obtaining an interinstitutional agreement (see EUROPE 12039). The new SIS functionalities will be implemented gradually, with the system expected to be fully operational in the Member States three years after the entry into force of the legislation, in 2021. (SP)