On Wednesday 19 May, the ambassadors of the Member States to the European Union (Coreper) adopted without discussion draft conclusions on international agreements on the transfer of air passenger name records (PNR), in particular the agreements with the United States and Australia which were evaluated earlier this year (see EUROPE 12684/12).
These agreements aim to collect air passenger data for the purpose of combating terrorism and serious crime.
The conclusions should be submitted to the Home Affairs Ministers, who will meet on 8 June. They insist on the added value and operational effectiveness of these agreements, as demonstrated by the Commission’s evaluation reports, according to a draft text dated 11 May.
These ‘PNR’ agreements represent a “unique set of data” that is essential “to prevent the return of foreign terrorist fighters and to combat, in particular, drug-related crime and the exploitation of children”, the draft conclusions stress. And they remain an instrument that is “key to ensuring our common public security”.
However, these agreements are indeed not fully in line with the Court of Justice ruling that invalidated the draft ‘PNR’ agreement with Canada in 2017 (see EUROPE 11837/2).
The European Parliament is criticising the shortcomings of the international agreements already in force. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)