Brussels, 11/02/2015 (Agence Europe) - In a joint resolution on the fight against terrorism adopted in Strasbourg on Wednesday 11 February, the main political groups in the European Parliament enshrined their agreement on the fate of the European PNR directive, which will be passed before the end of the year.
The agreement did not, however, end the confusion that reigns in certain groups. A few minutes after the vote, the Social Democrats called on the European Commission to bring forward a revised text that takes account of the ruling by the EU Court of Justice ruling of April 2014 on the personal data retention directive. One thing is clear and new, though: the EPP, S&D, ALDE and ECR Groups have linked the fate of the European PNR to that of reform of European data protection rules and called on the Council to make progress on the two matters in parallel. While the resolution is not binding, it is being seen as a victory for the ALDE Group and for Dutch MEP Sophie in't Veld, who was successful, too, in having the necessity and proportionality of the measure assessed.
In a joint resolution put forward by five groups (including the EFDD), adopted by 532 votes to 136, with 36 abstentions, and by means of a joint amendment proposed by the EPP, S&D, ALDE and ECR (passed by 529 votes to 149, with 27 abstentions), the main political groups came to agreement on a deadline of the end of 2015 for finalising the European PNR system. But they stressed that the European Commission must take account of the effect of the Court ruling on that same European PNR. Parliament also urges the Council to make faster progress on the data protection package so that trialogue talks on the EU PNR directive and the data protection legislative package can proceed in parallel.
This form of words “allows some to save face”, said a source shortly after the vote but “there is absolutely no question of asking the Commission to redraft its 2011 text”. The ECR Group also holds with this interpretation. “However, rapporteur Timothy Kirkhope will present an amended report on 26 February which addresses the concerns raised by the civil liberties committee in 2013”, when it voted down an initial report, said a spokesperson for the Conservative group. The Greens, who are firmly opposed to PNR systems and widespread keeping of information on individuals, were unwilling to be part of the joint resolution (the resolution proposed by the Greens was rejected by Parliament).
In the joint text, MEPs called for a “multi-layer” approach to tackle radicalisation, calling on member states to: - invest in educational and social schemes that address the root causes of radicalisation; - counterbalance online incitement to perform terrorist acts; - prevent recruitment and departures to join terrorist organisations; - disrupt financial support to terrorist organisations and trafficking of firearms; - set up “disengagement and de-radicalisation” programmes. The also call on the member states to prevent the movement of terrorist suspects by strengthening external border checks. Member states should, Parliament says, improve the exchange of information between law enforcement authorities and EU agencies. This, indeed, is precisely what EU heads of state and/or government are expected to agree upon at their informal summit on Thursday. (Solenn Paulic)