Recommendation for a Council Decision to authorise the opening of negotiations for an Agreement between the European Union and Japan for the transfer and use of Passenger Name Record (PNR) data

Summary:

Recommendation presented on 27 September 2019 by the European Commission authorising the opening of negotiations for an agreement between the European Union (EU) and Japan on the use of Passenger Name Record (PNR) data to prevent and combat terrorism and other serious transnational crime.

Further information:

PNR is a record of each passenger's travel requirements, which contains all information necessary to enable reservations to be processed by air carriers. As far as the present Recommendation is concerned, PNR data covers data collected and contained in the air carrier's automated reservation and departure control systems.

Japan expressed its interest to the European Commission to engage in negotiations with the aim of concluding a PNR Agreement with the EU. In particular, Japan indicated a pressing need to acquire PNR data from EU carriers in view of the 2020 Olympic Games in the country in order to address an anticipated increase of security risks.

The Commission published on 27 September 2019 a Recommendation for a Council Decision, in which it is argues that the EU should open negotiations with Japan with the purpose of signing a bilateral Agreement laying down the framework and conditions under which air carriers will be authorised to transfer to Japan the PNR data of passengers flying between the EU and Japan in a manner that is compliant with the requirements of EU law. The Council of the European Union adopted that Decision on 18 February 2020.

• Primary Source

Official

European Commission: Press Release, 27/09/2019: Security Union: The Commission recommends opening negotiations with Japan on the transfer of Passenger Name Record (PNR) data https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_19_5872

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 18/02/2020: EU-Japan PNR agreement: Council authorises opening of negotiations https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2020/02/18/eu-japan-pnr-agreement-council-authorises-opening-of-negotiations/

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