Brussels, 10/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 9 May the United Kingdom decided to opt in to the EU directive to set up a European PNR system of sharing air passenger information, a directive unveiled by the European Commission on 2 February, explained British sources in Brussels on 10 May. The UK had until 12 May to decide whether to opt in or out and decided to opt in because in time, the PNR system will cover all inter-EU flights (as the UK has been arguing). The source points out that in Luxembourg on 11 April, broad agreement was reached to extend the scope of the directive beyond the Commission's plans for it to cover international flights from the EU to countries outside the EU and flights from outside the EU. The UK argued that this did not go far enough because 70% of flights in the EU are inter-European flights. In Luxembourg next month, EU interior ministers will discuss progress in the PNR talks between the EU, Canada, Australia and the United States, which are drawing to a close. It will probably not be until the Polish Presidency of the EU that the EU Council of Ministers will decide on a common approach to the European PNR for internal EU flights, adds the British source. The UK wants member states to have the option of applying the European PNR to all flights in Europe that present a risk of terrorism or organised crime. (S.P./transl.fl)