The European Parliament approved the creation of a common database for air passengers. According to the newspaper Le Soir, the new tool will allow you to better fight terrorism.
The register will contain information collected by airlines at the time of booking: personal information of passengers, travel dates, baggage information and payment methods. Information will be stored for five years, but six months later, the name, address and contact details of “disguise”. To access the detailed information will be available only in exceptional cases.
The Directive proposed by the European Commission in 2011, was finally approved by an overwhelming majority (461 in favour, 179 against, 9 abstained). The debate lasted several years, as the agreement also envisages exchange of information with the United States and MEPs feared for the safety of personal data of Europeans. After the terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels, this issue apparently went by the wayside.
According to the official representative of the European Commission, Alexander Winterstein, a single database “will allow to strengthen the exchange of information between police authorities in the fight against terrorism.” “The establishment of a system for collecting and processing the data received from the airlines, will ensure closer cooperation between national law enforcement authorities to address gaps in security,” noted for its part the first Deputy head of the EC Frans Timmermans
The EU Council has already announced that it intends to approve the document next week.
