Brdo, 25/01/2008 (Agence Europe) - Ministers have given a warmer than expected welcome to the Commission proposal on the creation of a European PNR. “All the ministers supported the PNR proposal,” said Slovenian Home Affairs Minister Dragutin Mate at the press conference. There was also universal agreement on closely involving the European Parliament in discussions on this text, which could come into effect in the first half of 2009, said Commissioner Franco Frattini. The draft framework decision will require air carriers to collect information on all their passengers flying to or from an EU member state. It will not affect flights within Europe (see EUROPE 9536). Before the start of the meeting, however, not all ministers showed enthusiasm for such a move. Luxemburg Justice Minister Luc Frieden said that the advantages of the proposal would have to be weighed up, calling for more information on how it would work. Apparently, the arguments of UK Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, whose country has been using PNR for three years, were enough to convince the other ministers. That, at least, is the conclusion of several diplomats, for whom states' main reservations will now focus on the data protection accompanying the system, and how it will be received by their peoples. The EU-US PNR agreement signed in 2007 provoked great debate. (B.C.)