The European Union has approved two new regulations aimed at improving travel safety and assisting authorities in combating serious crime. The new rules will allow border authorities to receive crucial traveler information before individuals arrive at the EU’s external borders, enabling officials to identify potential risks and streamline the process of border checks.
A key component of the regulations focuses on fighting terrorism and organized crime. By linking Advanced Passenger Information (API) data with Passenger Name Records (PNR), authorities will be able to track criminals more efficiently and prevent potential threats before they reach EU borders.
To ensure the smooth operation of this system, a centralised data router will be established. This will help securely share passenger data across the EU while reducing administrative burdens for airlines by automating data processes. Airlines will be given a transition period to adapt to the new system and move towards full automation.
The new rules will come into effect 20 days after being published in the EU’s Official Journal. Following this, the outdated 2004 API directive will be officially repealed. The implementation of the data router will be overseen by eu-LISA, the EU’s technology agency for security and justice, in coordination with member states.
The EU is strengthening border security due to the increasing use of air travel by criminals and terrorists. With over 500 million air passengers traveling to and from the EU in 2019 alone, the need for more effective and smarter border checks has never been greater. These new regulations aim to close security gaps, ensuring a more uniform approach to passenger data collection and sharing, ultimately leading to safer borders and smoother travel experiences.