Brussels, 4 October 2024
Today, in the margins of G7, Commissioner Johansson has signed an agreement for the transfer of passenger name records (PNR) data on flights between the EU and Canada, together with the Canadian Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs, Dominic Leblanc. PNR data is information provided by passengers and gathered by airlines in the normal course of their business. Its use and analysis are an essential tool to fight terrorism, serious and organised crime, including drug trafficking and child exploitation.
It is now for the European Parliament and Council to give their consent before the conclusion of this Agreement. Once the agreement is concluded and will have entered into force, it will allow Canada and EU Member States to exchange passenger information by air carriers operating between them. This exchange of information will strengthen law enforcement cooperation between the EU and Canada. At the same time, the new agreement sets high standards for security, privacy and data protection.
The EU has already signed agreements allowing EU carriers to transfer PNR data to the United States and Australia. This agreement is another step in the European Commission’s commitment to strengthen law enforcement cooperation based on shared values of fundamental rights.
Source – EU Commission