PNR Deals Will Improve Security
Strasbourg -- Monday 4 July, 2011
Swift adoption of PNR Agreements is essential for European security
Three PNR agreements are set to provide a legal basis for the exchange of PNR data for flights between EU countries and Canada, Australia and the United States of America. Negotiations are at an advanced stage in all three cases but are entering a delicate phase. Whilst the European Parliament is not directly involved in brokering any of the deals, it is monitoring the outcome closely and will have a vote on the final text.
It is my opinion that the deals will greatly enhance security, and there is no question that the provisions will be beneficial in tackling terrorism. Of course there are outstanding questions, and many of my MEP colleagues are concerned about proportionality and profiling, as am I. There is a balance which we need to achieve.
But for me personally, the necessity and the proportionality of these agreements have been long apparent, in the number of crimes they have helped prevent, and the number of criminals that it has contributed in catching: serious crimes and serious criminals; murderers, rapists, drug traffickers, child traffickers and terrorists.
The questions which we are asking here this evening, are incredibly important questions, answers to which would make the process of decision making for this house a lot easier, and a lot more informed.
There will always be ideological differences within the European Parliament, such as how long data should be stored, and there are those that would argue it should not be collected at all; but I believe we have reached a workable and reasonable conclusion on these questions, which should satisfy all, with good safeguards, and checks, and rights for EU citizens.
We are at a crucial juncture, which every negotiation and every process find itself at, a time when we have to move forward and do our jobs, when we have to look at what we have on the table, and make a positive decision.
