What changes to the personal data of all passengers on EU flights

Systematic checks at the external borders of the Schengen and rapid completion of the legislation for the fight against terrorism, are calling for a joint declaration by the 28 ministers of Justice and Home Affairs of the EU met for the Fifth extraordinary session in Brussels.
In a joint statement they underscore the determination of EU countries to fight jointly against terrorism, while maintaining the european values, while at the same time point out that the attack in Brussels, is directed “against the open democratic society”.
In particular, point to the need to adopt the directive for the creation of a file with personal data of all air passengers (PNR) in April and implemented as a matter of urgency. In the airline and travel industry, the register of the name of a passenger or as it is internationally known, the passenger name record (PNR) is a record in the database of reservation system (CRS), which contains the path of a passenger or group of passengers travelling together. The registry that is stored in the system from the moment of its creation, up to at least 24 hours after the end of the flight.
In particular, the EU has decided:
– A follow-up to the combined national efforts to urgently investigate the network involved in the attacks in Paris and Brussels and other similar networks.
– To be issued by the PNR directive in April 2016 and to be implemented urgently, ensuring in this way that the data units passenger (PIU) exchange data between them as soon as possible.
– To continue firmly the work in progress: rapid completion of the legislation against terrorism, systematic checks at the external borders of the Schengen area, control of the acquisition and possession of weapons, the expansion of the European Criminal records Information System (ECRIS) to nationals of third countries; implementation of the action plan to combat the financing of terrorism; fight against fraud on the documents and full implementation of existing EU legislation on drug precursors explosives; and further counter-terrorism cooperation between the European Union and Turkey and the countries of North Africa, the Middle East and the Western Balkans.
– Exchanged information with authorities and transport operators, depending on the case, so that risk assessments can be carried out effectively and efficiently, and the measures to mitigate the impact can be adjusted as required into potential threats for the transport.
– To strengthen urgently the regular supply, the consistent use and interoperability of european and international databases in the areas of security, travel and immigration, with full exploitation of technological developments, which include from the outset guarantees for the protection of privacy. This is particularly critical for reliable verification of identity. The Commission will submit in the coming weeks a communication on the smart border management and interoperability. In this context, work should be accelerated for the development of a pan-european system of recognition of fingerprint integrated in the Schengen Information System (SIS).
– To find ways, as a priority, to ensure and to be taken in a way more fast and efficient digital evidence, with the strengthening of cooperation with third countries and with service providers operating in european territory, in order to improve the compliance with the legislation of the EU and of the member states and the direct contacts with the law enforcement authorities. At the Council meeting in June, it will identify specific measures to address this complex issue.
– To continue to develop effective preventive measures, in particular by improving the early detection of signs of radicalisation at a local level and with the rebuttal of the rhetoric of Daesh, in particular through communication strategies. The Network Awareness-raising on Radicalisation and the Network of Strategic Communications will further strengthen the support for professionals, civil society and member states on this issue. The Commission will intensify its work with companies, mainly in the forum of the EU for the Internet, in order to challenge terrorist propaganda and to draw up by June 2016 code of conduct during the sermons of hate on the Internet.
– To support fully the work of the counter-Terrorism Group (CTG), in particular the further acceleration of the creation of a platform for multilateral exchange of information in real-time.
– To be used more regularly the Joint Investigation Teams, which have demonstrated their usefulness after the attacks in Paris, to coordinate investigations and to collect and exchange data.
– To set up a joint liaison group of national anti-terrorism expert at the European Centre for the Fight against Terrorism (ECTC) of the Europol supports law enforcement authorities of the member states when investigating the broader european and international dimensions of the current terrorist threat, in which member states are invited to squeeze experts. This group will utilize the law enforcement capabilities of Europol to monitor the threat of foreign fighters, the flows of terrorist financing and trafficking of illegal firearms and propaganda on the Internet.
The commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration Dimitris Avramopoulos stressed that the Commission has taken many initiatives in the fight against terrorism, but there is a lack of political will, coordination, and a lack of confidence.
He stressed the need to improve the exchange of information and to implement what was agreed after the previous terrorist attacks.

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