The comprehensive test shall not start before the Commission has declared that it considers that the level of success of the tests referred to in Article 1 of Decision 2008/173/JHA is sufficient to begin such a test.

A comprehensive test aiming at confirming, in particular, the completion by the Commission and the Member States participating in SIS 1+ of the necessary technical arrangements to process SIS II data and the demonstration that the level of performance of SIS II is at least equivalent to that achieved with SIS 1+ shall be performed.

The comprehensive test shall be executed by the Member States participating in SIS 1+ for the N.SIS II and by the Commission for the Central SIS II.

The comprehensive test shall follow a detailed schedule defined by the Member States participating in SIS 1+ acting within the Council in cooperation with the Commission.

The comprehensive test shall be based on the technical specifications defined by the Member States participating in SIS 1+ acting within the Council in cooperation with the Commission.

The Commission and the Member States participating in SIS 1+ acting within the Council shall define the criteria for determining whether the necessary technical arrangements to process SIS II data are completed and the level of performance of SIS II is at least equivalent to that achieved with SIS 1+.

The test results shall be analysed using the criteria referred to in paragraph 6 of this Article, by the Commission and the Member States participating in SIS 1+ acting within the Council. The test results shall be validated in accordance with Article 71(3)(c) of Decision 2007/533/JHA.

Member States not participating in SIS 1+ may participate in the comprehensive test. Their results shall not affect the overall validation of that test.