The European Commission on Tuesday unveiled a package of
measures in the fight against terrorism, including the collection
of air passenger data.
Under the proposals, 19 pieces of personal information of air
passengers flying to and from European Union (EU) countries will be
collected and kept for 13 years.
The so-called passenger name record (PNR) data include a phone
number, email address and payment details so that law enforcement
authorities can track down the air passenger for investigation.
The collection of PNR data mirrors a practice of the United
States although the measures would not apply to internal flights
within the EU.
The package also contains proposals that would criminalize
terrorist training, recruitment and public provocation to commit
terrorist offenses, including via the Internet. It also deals with
the prevention of the use of explosives by terrorists.
"We cannot be complacent. We have to continue striking the right
balance between being aware of the threat (of terrorism) and taking
adequate and proportionate measures, both at European and national
level, to prevent it," said European Commission Vice President
Franco Frattini, who is in charge of security and justice
affairs.
"Terrorists will strike whenever, wherever and with whatever
means to make the most impact."
The package, however, raised concerns over the protection of
civil liberties.
"Our goal remains preserving the right balance between the
fundamental right to security of citizens, the right to life and
the other fundamental rights of individuals, including privacy and
procedural rights," said Frattini.
EU's new counter-terrorism coordinator Gilles de Kerchove
admitted on Monday that compensatory measures are needed, so that
the fight against terrorism does not shrink individual liberty.
To fight terrorism effectively, EU member states need to share
information more widely, both with each other and with the EU
institutions. But compensatory measures are also needed, he told a
committee of the European Parliament.
(Xinhua News Agency November 7, 2007)
