Debate on plans to use EU Passenger Name Record (PNR) data to fight terrorism | WPN World People News

A draft law that would oblige airlines to hand EU countries the data of passengers entering or leaving the EU, in order to help fight serious crime and terrorism, will be discussed with the Commission and Council in the Civil Liberties Committee on Tuesday. Debate on the EU Passenger Name Record (PNR) proposal, tabled in 2011, has gained momentum due to worries that Europeans returning home after fighting for the so-called “Islamic State” could pose a threat to the EU's internal security.

The EU PNR proposal, presented by the Commission in February 2011, would oblige air carriers to provide EU countries with the data of passengers entering or leaving the EU for use in preventing, detecting, investigating and prosecuting serious crime and terrorist offences.

The draft directive was rejected by the Civil Liberties Committee in April 2013 by 30 votes to 25. MEPs voting against questioned the necessity and proportionality of the proposed EU scheme to collect airline passengers' data, while those voting in favour highlighted its potential added value for EU counter-terrorism policy. In June 2013, Parliament decided in plenary session to refer the matter back to the Civil Liberties Committee.

Debate on the proposal has gained momentum due to concerns over possible threats to the EU's internal security posed by Europeans returning home after fighting for the so-called “Islamic State”. On 30 August 2014, the European Council called on Parliament and Council to finalise work on the EU PNR proposal before the end of the year.

PNR data is information provided by passengers and collected by air carriers during reservation and check-in procedures. It contains several different types of information, such as travel dates, travel itinerary, ticket information, contact details, and means of payment used.

Source: European Parliament