Passenger proposals ‘half-baked’

Date: 12/02/04

EU PROPOSALS to compel airlines and sea carriers to collect and transmit passenger data to immigration authorities in advance of travel are seriously flawed, according to a report published today (12 February).

The study, by the UK's House of Lords select committee on the European Union, concluded that the plan is "a half-baked idea . . . and unlikely to reduce illegal immigration significantly".

"It would certainly cause massive disruption to millions of passengers and create substantial extra costs for air and sea carriers," said the committee chairwoman, Liberal Democrat peer Angela Harris.

The committee warned the proposal, originally put forward by the Spanish government in March 2003, would imposes duties on carriers which were disproportionate to the aim of combating illegal immigration and would provide no redress for passengers who were wrongly denied boarding.

A requirement for carriers to notify immigration authorities of the non-use of return tickets would be excessive and likely ineffective, it added.

A report published on 12 February 2004 by the UK House of Lords Select Committee on the European Union says EU proposals to require airlines and sea carriers to transmit passenger data to immigration authorities in advance of travel are flawed.

http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld200304/ldselect/ldeucom/29/29.pdf http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld200304/ldselect/ldeucom/29/29.pdf

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