ABSTRACT
The general aim of the Prüm Decisions is to step up cross-border cooperation, in particularly information exchange, its provisions foresee different information access purposes, depending on the category of data that is subject to automatic search. As stated by Bellanova, Prüm Decisions "suppose to offer legal and technological instruments for fighting terrorism and international crime more efficiently, compensating potential negative spill-overs of the Schengen area". For automated data exchange, Decision 2008/615/JHA obliges the States to establish national databases of DNA, dactyloscopic and vehicle registration and to grant the search right to competent authorities of other States, and to perform further information exchange. In many European countries dactyloscopic data is treated as police data and its collection does not affect either the fundamental right of physical and moral integrity, or the right of privacy. The Prüm Treaty and Prüm Decisions are very controversial instruments of information exchange.
