Brussels, 15/07/2015(Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 14 July, during a visit to Mexico, the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dimitris Avramopoulos, formally launched negotiations with the Mexican authorities for an agreement on the transfer of European airline passenger data transfers (PNR - Passengers names records) to the Mexican authorities.
In his meeting with Aristoteles Nuñez, the head of the Mexican Department for Tax and Customs, the Commissioner made this launch official, explained the Commission in a press release on Wednesday 15 July. These negotiations are the logical outcome of the threats the Mexican authorities had made to European airlines operating on Mexican soil and which had been exposed to possible fines if this passenger data were not transferred.
Mexico currently addressed a final ultimatum to the EU on 1 July and the first technical discussions had already taken place by last week. On 23 June, the Council of the EU adopted the Commission negotiating mandate submitted on 13 May. The European Parliament is expected to give its approval, once the negotiations are finished.
Some groups at the EP expressed reservations about the fact that passenger data from the EU is being transferred to a country that is not exactly a perfect example in the human rights field.
Reflections on a standard instrument for international PNR
The EP is also examining other international agreements that the EU could negotiate in the future with countries such as South Korea and New Zealand, which are interested in passenger data from the EU. In its internal security agenda, the Commission proposed that a common model were examined applicable to all future international agreements and which would set out guidelines in this area.
An internal security committee meeting (COSI) is planned for 22-23 July and is expected to discuss the opportunity of developing a “regulation” or legislative instrument “standardising” negotiations for international agreements. This would constitute a “uniform” approach, which had the support of several member states in the past. A preparatory note for this meeting said that the approach could also possibly remain as it is in current practices for agreements negotiated bilaterally. An intermediate solution between the standard model and the bilateral approach may also be chosen and best suited to the concerns that the countries affected could possibly raise.
This reflection will not, however, move forward unless the European Court of Justice gives its verdict on the legality of the EU/Canada PNR agreement and the legality of collecting data, following the request made by MEPs last November. The ongoing negotiations with Mexico will not be finalised before this ruling in 2015 either. (Solenn Paulic)