EU/Canada Agreement: transfer and processing of passenger name record (PNR) data

The European Parliament adopted by 521 votes to 90, with 45 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Agreement between Canada and the European Union on the transfer and processing of Passenger Name Record data (PNR data).

Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the Agreement.

The Agreement provides for the transfer of passenger name record data to Canada for the purposes of preventing, detecting, investigating and prosecuting serious crime and terrorism. It ensures full respect for the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, as interpreted by the Court of Justice of the European Union. It also sets out the rules governing the transfer of PNR data to Canada and its use. It prohibits the processing of sensitive data, guarantees individuals the right to access their data and correct errors, and specifies data retention periods, among other provisions.

Onward transfers of PNR data to other government authorities will be subject to appropriate safeguards and, in case of disclosure outside Canada, limited to countries which have concluded a comparable Agreement with the EU or are subject to an adequacy decision of the Commission.