MEPs have endorsed an agreement on transferring passenger name record (PNR) data from the EU to Canada, and on processing this data.
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.
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.
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).
