The EESC agrees with the need for effective collection and transfer of advanced passenger information and passenger name records data for border management purposes and for combatting illegal immigration, as well as for security reasons, including the need to prevent and combat terrorism and serious crime. It recognises the need for a harmonised implementation and monitoring of the applicable legal framework to eliminate differences resulting from varied practices of Member States, increase legal certainty, accelerate passenger flow and reduce administrative difficulties for air carriers.
In addition, the EESC emphasises the importance of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights when applying the proposed regulations as well as the need to comply with the current data protection standards.