EU ministers agree on common approach to air passenger data

The interior ministers of the 28-country European Union (EU) on Friday agreed to set up a new system on air passengers' information as a way to combat terrorism in the wake of Paris attacks.

Under the agreement, the bloc will set up a passenger name record (PNR) system and allow the data exchanges among its member states.

Air carriers will be obliged to provide EU member states' authorities with the passengers' data for flights entering or departing from the EU. Access to the data on passengers of intra-EU flights will also be allowed.

The EU move came after the deadly Paris attacks and France has been reportedly pushing for more convenience on the use of air travelers' data.

"PNR is very important, France has been mobilized for many months already in favor of this indispensable tool against terrorism," said French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve.

The bloc has been negotiating on the common approach for PNR for several years.

"I would like to confirm, not without some pride, that after many years of discussion we have finally been able to get an agreement on European PNR," said Etienne Schneider, minister of interior security of Luxembourg which holds the rotating presidency of the EU.

PNR data includes the name, travel dates, travel itinerary, ticket information, contact details, travel agent at which the flight was booked, means of payment used, seat number and baggage information.

Various member states already use PNR data for law enforcement purposes but there is as yet no common approach across the EU.

Britain and Ireland have opted in to the directive on the use of PNR. However, Denmark, which rejected to opt-in the EU's Justice and Home Affairs rules in a referendum on Thursday, is not participating.

The ministers' agreement still needs approval from the European Parliament. Once adopted, EU member states will have two years to bring into force the laws. Endit