European ministers have finally agreed to allow air traveler data to be passed on to relevant law enforcement agencies.
Sparked by the recent terrorist attacks in Paris, the EU agreed to a system to share airline passenger information, after years of debate trying to balance security fears with individual privacy rights.
Law enforcement agencies will soon have access to names, travel dates, itinerary, credit card information and contact details of passengers flying in, out and within Europe.
Scheduled and charter flights will be included and all information will be recorded and kept for six months.
Talks on a passenger name record (PNR) agreement date back to 2007 as interior ministers were unable to reach agreement on people’s privacy rights.
It has taken the Paris terror attacks for it to be finally pushed through.
French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said it is ‘indispensable in the fight against terrorism.’
The EU already has similar passenger data agreements on flights to and from the US, Canada and Australia.
The PNR agreement still has to be formally endorsed at a EU assembly but this is thought to be a formality and may become law as soon as next month.
