Use of passenger name record (PNR) for law enforcement purposes

The Council discussed, without yet reaching definitive conclusions, some characteristics of a future passenger name record (PNR) system for collecting personal data gathered by air carriers when passengers book their tickets on international flights serving the territory of a Member State. The data, which would be forwarded to the public authorities before the  passengers board the aircraft, would serve as input for analysing the terrorist and criminal threat and could also be used in the context of individual inquiries.

As regards including PNR data relating to intra-Community flights, the Council noted that the

cost-benefit ratio was an issue and that that point therefore needed to be assessed before deciding to include the data in the European instrument. The data are already being – and will continue to be – collected by some Member States at national discretion. The Council therefore agreed to review that specific issue once the PNR system had been in operation for a few years.

An overall report will be submitted to the JHA Council for endorsement at its next meeting on

27 and 28 November 2008. The Council will decide at that point on the follow-up to be given to that dossier.