The new EU Member States are preparing to join the Schengen zone in October 2007. To achieve this, both sides - the prospective candidates and the EU itself - have to implement certain requirements, including SIS and SIS II. How does the Council view the progress in the creation and implementation of the Schengen information system and is it confident that this work will be finished before October 2007? Does the Council foresee any delay in the enlargement of the Schengen zone? What political, economic and other consequences might this delay have for Schengen zone candidate countries and the EU?