Eu Seen To Launch Tougher Conditions For Schengen Area

Ministers for justice and home affairs of the European Union discussed further steps of action for strengthening counter-terrorism measures, including tougher conditions for Schengen Area and deeper follow-up of social media traffic, in a meeting held in Riga, the capital of Latvia.

Following the informal meeting, ministers adopted the Riga Joint Statement on Counter-Terrorrism that focuses on 4 main areas; creation of an effective EU PNR system, ammendments on the EU's Schengen Border Code, better cross-border cooperation on fighting illegal trafficking of firearms and further actions addressing radicalization to terrorism, especially on social media.

The joint statement by ministers is considered to be an input for the discussion at the Informal Meeting of the Heads of State and Government that will take place on 12 February 2015.

Towards an EU PNR system

Creation of an effective and common EU PNR system seems to be the most critical part of the new meassures ahead. In the airline and travel industries, a passenger name record (PNR) is a record in the database that contains the data and the itinerary for a passenger, or a group of passengers travelling together.

While most member states have their own PNR system across Europe, due to the lack of a European legislation it is not possible to collect PNR data on a common system and share it across Europe and overseas.

Concerns on violating citizens' pricacy

In fact a shared European database of air passengers' personal information has been discussed within the EU since 2011. The issue has been stuck in the EU Parliament since April 2014 when the Parliament's committee voted against it. Members of the European Parliament turned it down due to concerns that it could violate citizens' privacy.

"In Turkey PNR data is taken as a simple reservation code; however PNR contatins a considerable amount of other information with regards to the passanger, including personal data, contact information, ticketing and fare details, credit card numbers, number luggages, special service requests such as meal requirements, seating preferences, wheelchairs, and other similar requests" Melih Özsöz, IKV's Deputy Secretary-General and Research Director, said and added:

"Detailled analysis on PNR number will lead to detailled profiling of personal information about the passanger. Therefore sharing of those personal information with other member states and international organizations such as Europol, Frontex etc. will lead to identification of regular passangers as potential threats."

Tougher conditions for Schengen Area

In regards to the fight against terrorism, the EU prepares to take new measures when entering and exiting the EU.

Within this framework, it is foreseen to change the rules related to the Schengen Borders Code not only for citizens of third countries but also for citizens of EU member states, especially for intra-EU travels. It is also aimed to improve the exchange of information related to border controls with all countries and international organizations.

Özsöz underlined that, Turkish citizens had been required since the 1980s to obtain visa when entering to EU, these changes foreseen within the Schengen border management will also have direct consequences on Turkish citizens.

The right balance between freedom and security

While pointing out that there is strong interaction between border management, fight against illegal migration, security and fight against terrorism, Özsöz stressed on the importance of ensuring the right balance between freedom and security.

"In case foreseen measures will get into effect, we hope that they will not have any harm to the ongoing process of visa-free dialogue between Turkey and the EU" Özsöz said, mentioning Turkey-EU dialogue on visa-free travel for Turkish nationals Social media is under scrutiny.

The social media also constituted an important agenda of the Justice And Home Affairs Council to be submitted for EU leaders.

Within the fight against radicalization, EU Ministers called upon for new measures in regard to the internet through which it is feared that radicalization can be spread faster and more easily.

It is foreseen to strengthen cooperation with internet industry and social media platforms as well as to increase the role of Europol in regards to the analysis and follow-up of social media traffic.

(PHOTO) - Istanbul