Press Release: EU Passenger Name Record (PNR) directive: Council confirms agreement found with EP

On 4 December 2015 the Council of the European Union approved the compromise text agreed with the European Parliament on the proposal for a directive on the use of passenger name record (PNR) data for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of terrorist offences and serious crime.

The compromise text was endorsed by the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee of the European Parliament on the 10 December 2015 by 38 votes to 19, with 2 abstentions.

Following the terrorist attacks in Brussels on 22 March, several stakeholders increased the pressure over the European Parliament to approve the draft law. The plenary had decided to postpone the final vote on the proposal some days before.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Justice and Home Affairs, 3-4 December 2015 http://www.europeansources.info/record/meeting-justice-and-home-affairs-3-4-december-2015/

ESO: Background information: EU PNR: lead MEP optimistic on prospects of a deal meeting Parliament's concerns http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-eu-pnr-lead-mep-optimistic-on-prospects-of-a-deal-meeting-parliaments-concerns/

European Parliament: Newsroom: Press Release, 04.12.15: EU PNR: Parliament's rapporteur welcomes Home Affairs Ministers green light to deal http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20151204IPR06267/

EUObserver, 04.12.15: EU ministers back air passenger data sweep https://euobserver.com/justice/131395

EUObserver, 09.12.15: EU counter-terror bill is 'indiscriminate' data sweep https://euobserver.com/justice/131457

European Parliament: Press Release, 10.12.15: EU Passenger Name Record (PNR): Civil Liberties Committee backs EP/Council deal http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20151207IPR06435/pdf

EurActiv, 10.12.15: EU lawmakers back air passenger data deal http://www.euractiv.com/sections/transport/eu-lawmakers-back-air-passenger-data-deal-320334

EurActiv, 09.03.16: MEPs refuse to vote on PNR before Council strengthens data protection http://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/meps-refuse-to-vote-on-pnr-before-council-strengthens-data-protection/

EurActiv, 23.03.16: Flight data deal is a reason for UK to stay in the EU, says Tory MEP http://www.euractiv.com/section/transport/news/flight-data-deal-is-a-reason-for-uk-to-stay-in-the-eu-says-tory-mep/

EUObserver, 23.03.16: EU pushes for flight data bill after Brussels attacks https://euobserver.com/justice/132790

EurActiv, 29.03.16: Hypocrisy at the heart of the PNR debate http://www.euractiv.com/section/all/news/hypocrisy-at-the-heart-of-the-pnr-debate/

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