France pushed for the introduction of Passenger Name Records (PNR) following the November 13, 2015 attacks in Paris, which killed 130 and injured hundreds more. PNR would allow for the collection and retention, for a period of time, of all data associated with air travelers in the EU. However — despite having the backing of EU Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee — the proposal has stalled in the European Parliament over privacy and human rights fears.
We do need an European PNR. The European Parliament has to approve its creation. We have been waiting for too long. https://t.co/Ww1qyBGV7B
— Gérard Araud (@GerardAraud) March 22, 2016
Following the attacks in Brussels, French President Francois Hollande called an emergency meeting with Valls and the Ministers of Interior and Defense, Bernard Cazeneuve and Jean-Yves Le Drian. Valls said afterwards: "We are at war" and called for the rapid introduction of the PNR scheme as a counterterrorism measure for Europe. A similar system was adopted in the US following 9/11.
French interior min @BCazeneuve renews call for EU parliament to approve EU-wide rules on Passenger Name Records (PNR). #BrusselsAttacks
— François Picard (@FrancoisF24) March 22, 2016
Plans to introduce PNR for all EU airline travelers were deferred in early March following an argument between European Parliament lawmakers, with the chief negotiator accusing left-wing parties of "playing games" with counterterrorism legislation.
Why are the French *SO* keen on PNR? General authoritarian trend after Paris attacks? Something else? https://t.co/qIx4wCU3Uu
— Jon Worth (@jonworth) March 22, 2016
The controversial mass data collection has brought criticism from civil rights groups who say the mass collection of data is a breach of the right to privacy and will not, in any case stop terrorism. The PNR data handed over by the airlines will be retained for five years. For the first six months, the data will be "unmasked" to include personal identifying information, after which the data will then have to be "masked out" for the remaining four and a half years.
Delays and Disagreements
The PNR legislation was due to go to a final vote in the European Parliament, but the motion was delayed after the Socialists & Democrats, the Liberals & Democrats, the European United Left, the Greens, the Freedom and Direct Democracy and the Europe of Nations & Freedom ENF groups, all voted against.
Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee lead negotiator on the EU PNR proposal, Timothy Kirkhope said: "The leaders of the left-wing groups in the European Parliament have played games with this proposal from day one. They are playing games with it again. Most frustrating to me is the leaders of the Liberal and Socialist groups who claim to be pro-PNR in public but do whatever they can to scupper it in private.
"We're talking about a critical counterterrorism tool that our governments say they desperately need to ensure people's safety. It should not be toyed around with like this for party political purposes. I intend to keep asking for this proposal to be taken to a vote. There is absolutely no reason to delay it, and lives are at risk the longer we stall."
Valls will Wednesday travel to Brussels to press Juncker and lawmakers to accelerate the PNR proposal as a matter of urgency, following the deadly terror attacks in Brussels as EU law enforcement and intelligence agencies struggle to keep track of thousands of radicalized Muslims in Europe.
