The European Union has agreed to create new rules for collecting and using information from air travelers.
The rules aim to improve border security and law enforcement efforts against terrorism and serious crime.
Improved data collection and sharing
The rules make sure that airlines collect standardized information from travelers, which is called Advance Passenger Information (API).
Required API data includes:
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Passenger name
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Date of birth
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Nationality
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Travel document details
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Seating information
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Baggage details
Airlines must also collect certain flight details like flight numbers, airport codes, and arrival/departure times.
The data will be automatically collected by scanning machine-readable passports whenever possible.
Manual collection is allowed during a two-year transitional period. The rules also require a central hub in the EU to make it easier for airlines to send data to border and law enforcement agencies.
Enhancing border management and law enforcement
The simplified process of collecting and sending API data is expected to help both border officials and law enforcement.
Border officials will better understand who is coming into the country, which will speed up pre-flight checks and border processing. This means shorter waits for travelers and stronger security to stop unauthorized border crossing.
Meanwhile, law enforcement can use API data along with reservation information to help spot high-risk travelers to verify the travel habits of people they suspect of wrongdoing.
Next steps
The tentative deal still needs to be reviewed by representatives from EU countries before it can be officially approved by the entire European Parliament and Council.
If passed, member states will have two years to comply with the new API data regulations.
The centralized router system may later expand to also include passenger name record (PNR) data. This could further enhance security efforts while reducing costs and data errors.
Implications for visitors and immigrants
The new API data regulations will affect everyone flying into and around the EU, including tourists and immigrants.
While the ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) visa waiver is still set to launch in mid-2025, the streamlined API data collection could help speed up background checks for applicants.
These rules might also make it quicker for people with ETIAS to pass through passport control at the border.
For people staying in the EU for longer like digital nomads, students, and families, tighter data sharing aims to improve EU security.
Effects on immigration policies
In addition to the pending ETIAS system, some speculate whether the push for more traveler data could influence future EU immigration reforms.
Will the regulations result in more background checks for everyone applying for visas and crossing the border?
Ensuring security is crucial, but EU policymakers must strike a balance between making immigration systems efficient and protecting people’s rights and freedoms.
The success of new data initiatives like the API router will likely impact that ongoing debate.
Stepping up security, efficiency
The provisional API data agreement shows that the EU is working to use technology and share information to improve border security and law enforcement.
More efficient data collection and analysis aims to improve outcomes for EU citizens as well as visitors.