Commissioner Magnus Brunner, in a written answer on 3 July 2026, indicated that the European Commission is still in the early consultation and assessment phase for a possible 'Prüm International' initiative to extend automated police data exchange to non-EU countries, and has not yet identified which countries would be suited to participate. The answer came in response to a question from MEP Özlem Demirel, who had asked about candidate countries, past workshops, and the legal framework's design.
Brunner confirmed that the Commission is assessing data protection standards, legal conditions, and technical factors, but did not name any non-EU countries that are considered suitable or that have expressed interest. He noted that a technical workshop was held on 5 March 2026 with Member States, eu-LISA, and Europol, with Schengen Associated countries joining for part of the agenda. A public consultation was launched on 12 June 2026 via the 'Have your say' portal. The Commissioner did not specify whether the framework would be 'one size fits all' or tailored per country, stating only that the assessment is ongoing.
The answer provides no concrete proposals, numerical targets, or deadlines, remaining at the level of declarative support for exploring the initiative. Institutional follow-up is expected to emerge from the public consultation and further technical discussions, but no timeline was given. The cautious tone suggests the Commission is prioritising data protection and legal compatibility before advancing any formal proposal.