BRUSSELS, October 11 (RAPSI/RIA Novosti) – The European Union has expressed doubts about whether it can comply with Russian demands to provide the personal data of all European passengers flying to or over Russia.
A European Council representative told RIA Novosti on Friday that there is no legal mechanism in EU nations for the data to be provided.
The requirement, which also applies to travellers on ships and trains, is the outcome of reforms to Russia’s Transportation Ministry, which has now been given responsibility for overseeing transport security.
Under recently introduced legislation, all data collected by the Transportation Ministry will be collated in centralized data banks shared with the Interior Ministry and Federal Security Service.
Western media has reported that information given by passengers while purchasing a flight will now have to be given to Russia within 30 minutes of the ticket being booked.
Airlines are also required to pass on information about luggage and whether passengers have turned up for their flights.
