Brussels, 25/01/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 25 January, the Slovenian Presidency confirmed that the definitive implementation of the second generation Schengen Information System (SIS II) would be delayed by around a year. “The system should be operational between July and September 2009,” said Slovenian Home Affairs Minister Dragutin Mate at a press conference. Responding to a question from EUROPE, he said that “a further two to three months” would be needed for states to connect to SIS II (for more information, see EUROPE 9204)). The last state to link up to the system, then, will do so in November of December 2009. The Commission, which is responsible for the development of the system, planned that SIS II would be up and running from 17 December 2008. The Commission plans to present the new timetable to the Council of Home Affairs Ministers in February. At the same time, the Council has decided to put in place a “group of friends”, responsible for the political monitoring of the progress made by the Commission. This group will be made up of ministers from Slovenia, Germany, France, Portugal, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Italy and Austria. (B.C.)