Following the request of the Council and the European Parliament, the Commission adopted on June 24th 2009 a legislative package proposing the setting up of an Agency for the long‑term operational management of the Schengen Information System (SIS II), Visa Information System (VIS), EURODAC and other large-scale IT systems in the area of freedom, security and justice.

The legislative package adopted by the Commission is composed of a Regulation establishing the Agency, a Decision and a horizontal Communication providing a quick overview of the legislative proposals. The Agency will be set up in the form of a Regulatory Agency, an independent European body. The Commission and the participating States will be represented on the Management Board, which will be the Agency's governing body. The Agency will be assisted by advisory groups composed of national experts.
 
The core mission of the Agency would be to fulfil the operational management tasks for Schengen Information System (SIS II), Visa Information System (VIS) and EURODAC, keeping the systems functioning 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In addition to these operational activities, the Agency will also be responsible for adopting the necessary security measures, reporting, publishing statistics, monitoring of research, SIS II and VIS related training and information issues. It will ensure data security and integrity as well as compliance with data protection rules.  
 
This dedicated, specialised Agency will be able to achieve important synergies and economies of scale as all three existing IT systems will be housed in one location, under common management. As a centre of excellence, the Agency will have the potential to be entrusted with the development of new IT systems in the area of freedom, security and justice.
 
The Agency should become operational as of 2012 and be in a position to take over tasks related to the operational management of SIS II, VIS and EURODAC.