The government of canada and theEuropean Union (UE) signed a new agreement on the transfer and processing of Passenger Name Record (PR) data, aimed at improving border security and strengthening international cooperation in public security.
Objectives of the agreement
This agreement allows EU air carriers to transfer passenger data to theCanada Border Services Agency (ASFC), in order to assess the risks before the arrival of travelers.
Information included in the RFP, such as payment method, number of bags, and frequent flyer numbers, helps identify potential threats to national security, including those related to terrorism and transnational crime.
Protection of personal information
The government specifies that the protection of privacy is at the heart of this agreement which respects the rights and freedoms of travelers.
Thus, the CBSA is committed to using passenger information in accordance with the requirements of the Personal Information Protection Act and other Canadian laws, such as Customs Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
These measures ensure that data is only used where necessary to protect public safety.
Strengthened collaboration
The agreement was formalized in Italy on October 4, during the “ Meeting of Interior Ministers » of the G7, in the presence of the Minister of Public Security, Dominic LeBlancand the European Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson.
“Canada and the European Union are determined to improve the security and efficiency of our border services through the collection and use of passenger name record data,” underlined Minister LeBlanc.
The Government of Canada recalls that the importance of using passenger name record data has been recognized by international organizations such as United Nations and theInternational Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
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