1.ECRIS-TCN shall be composed of:
(a)a central system in which identity information on convicted third-country nationals is stored;
(b)a national central access point in each Member State;
(c)interface software enabling the connection of the competent authorities to the central system via the national central access points and the communication infrastructure referred to in point (d);
(d)a communication infrastructure between the central system and the national central access points.
2.The central system shall be hosted by eu-LISA at its technical sites.
3.The interface software shall be integrated with the ECRIS reference implementation. The Member States shall use the ECRIS reference implementation or, in the situation and under the conditions set out in paragraphs 4 to 8, the national ECRIS implementation software to query ECRIS-TCN and to send subsequent requests for criminal records information.
4.The Member States which use their national ECRIS implementation software shall be responsible for ensuring that their national ECRIS implementation software allows their national criminal records authorities to use ECRIS-TCN, with the exception of the Interface Software, in accordance with this Regulation. For that purpose, they shall, before the date of start of operations of ECRIS-TCN in accordance with Article 35(4), ensure that their national ECRIS implementation software functions in accordance with the protocols and technical specifications established in the implementing acts referred to in Article 10, and with any further technical requirements established by eu-LISA pursuant to this Regulation based on those implementing acts.
5.For as long as they do not use the ECRIS reference implementation, Member States which use their national ECRIS implementation software shall also ensure the implementation of any subsequent technical adaptations to their national ECRIS implementation software required by any changes to the technical specifications established in the implementing acts referred to in Article 10, or changes to any further technical requirements established by eu-LISA pursuant to this Regulation based on those implementing acts, without undue delay.
6.The Member States which use their national ECRIS implementation software shall bear all the costs associated with the implementation, maintenance and further development of their national ECRIS implementation software and its interconnection with ECRIS-TCN, with the exception of the interface software.
7.If a Member State which uses its national ECRIS implementation software is unable to comply with its obligations under this Article, it shall be obliged to use the ECRIS reference implementation, including the integrated interface software, to make use of ECRIS-TCN.
8.In view of the assessment to be carried out by the Commission pursuant to point (b) of Article 36(10), the Member States concerned shall provide the Commission with all necessary information.