European Parliament approves EU–Canada air passenger data agreement | News | European Parliament

On Wednesday, 521 MEPs supported the agreement, while 90 opposed it, and 45 abstained.

PNR data includes passengers’ travel dates and itineraries, contact details, seat numbers, and luggage information. The agreement sets out rules for transfers of PNR data to Canada and its processing, prohibits the processing of sensitive data, ensures that individuals can access their data and correct inaccuracies, and outlines data retention periods, among other provisions.

As part of the agreement, Canadian authorities also agree to share “relevant and appropriate analytical information containing PNR data” obtained under the agreement with their EU counterparts (Europol, Eurojust and national authorities).

Quote

After the vote, rapporteur Nikola Minchev (Renew, Bulgaria) said: “Today’s vote is a strong statement that the EU will not compromise on security or fundamental rights. The revised PNR agreement strengthens our capacity to prevent and investigate terrorism and serious crimes, equipping authorities with the necessary tools while ensuring strict safeguards on data protection, non-discrimination, and retention. At a time of rising geopolitical tensions, cooperation with reliable partners like Canada is essential. This agreement reflects the EU’s commitment to both security and fundamental freedoms, setting a standard for how democracies can work together to protect citizens without undermining their rights.”

Next steps

Now that Parliament has given its consent, the Council can make a final decision on approving the agreement.

Background

Law enforcement authorities use PNR data collected by airlines to investigate and prevent serious crime and terrorism, for example by identifying suspicious travel patterns and criminal associates.

In 2017, the Court of Justice of the EU ruled in an opinion requested by Parliament that a previous agreement on PNR transfers to Canada was incompatible with fundamental rights protection in the EU. Negotiations on a new agreement, compliant with the EU Treaties and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, produced a preliminary agreement in October 2023.