Europe approves air passenger data sharing after Paris, Brussels attacks

European MPs have approved a plan to share air passenger data following five years of bitter discussions that escalated after the Paris and Brussels attacks. 

The system will allow police and justice officials to access airline passenger data on all flights to and from the European Union, including name, itinerary, baggage and passport data. 

Lawmakers approved the system by 461 votes with 179 against and 9 abstentions. 

The new Passenger Name Record (PNR) is already collected by airlines, but now national authorities will be able to acquire it. Data will be stored for five years although after six months vital information that could identify an individual would be "masked," according to the Guardian. 

"We've taken a long time to come to this point. But I hope we finally may be able to put in place a PNR system that delivers both for saving lives and also for protecting our vital liberties," Timothy Kirkhope, the British Conservative MEP, who was the European parliament's chief negotiator, told reporters on Wednesday in Strasbourg.

Terrorist attacks by the Islamic State group in Paris prompted interior ministers from the 28 members of the EU bloc in December to set aside privacy concerns and approve the legislation, readying it for a vote. 

The PNR is also designed to track common criminals, including people and weapons smugglers and drug dealers. 

French prime minister Manuel Valls recently urged MEPs to accept their responsibilities in the wake of the recent Brussels attacks. 

"The European PNR is an extra means we will have to be effective in the fight against terrorism," Valls said.

But the measure, which has the backing of the U.S., has been criticised by privacy campaigners. 

The European Digital Rights (EDRI) group argues that a five-year data retention period is too long and that the new legislation will be ineffective in the fight against terrorism: 

EDRI claims the Paris attackers "were already known to French authorities and details of their travels were also known". 

"Rather than creating new surveillance measures, the EU should look for more active and effective cooperation between law enforcement agencies in the EU," the group says. 

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