On 24 June 2026, the Council of the European Union adopted an implementing decision authorising EU Member States to supply personal data relating to dactyloscopic data (fingerprints) to Switzerland and Liechtenstein for automated searching and comparison in combating terrorism and cross-border crime, effective from 1 July 2026. The decision implements the Agreements between the EU and Switzerland, and the EU and Liechtenstein, concluded by Council Decisions (EU) 2022/2536 and (EU) 2022/2537 of 12 December 2022. The supply of data was conditional on Switzerland and Liechtenstein implementing Chapter 6 of Council Decision 2008/615/JHA in national law, verified by evaluation visits and a pilot run. Questionnaires were sent to Switzerland in November 2024 and to Liechtenstein in July 2025; answers were received in May 2025 and July 2025 respectively. A common evaluation visit took place on 21 January 2026, and a successful pilot run for dactyloscopic data exchange was carried out with Austria. An overall evaluation report was presented to the Council on 22 April 2026, concluding that legal, operational and technical conditions were met. Denmark is not taking part in this Decision and is not bound by it.
The decision impacts EU Member States' law enforcement authorities, which can now exchange fingerprint data with their Swiss and Liechtenstein counterparts, enhancing cross-border cooperation against terrorism and serious crime. Switzerland and Liechtenstein benefit from improved access to EU fingerprint databases, while data protection authorities will oversee compliance with privacy safeguards. Denmark remains excluded from the arrangement. No further institutional follow-up is required; the decision takes effect on 1 July 2026.