Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson has welcomed a European Parliament agreement on allowing the collection and sharing of basic flight passenger information to detect serious criminal and terrorist activity. The EU's Passenger Name Records (PNR) directive will allow for the transfer of simple data given at the time of booking a flight to spot patterns of suspicious behaviour.

Mr Nicholson said:

"We need to use every tool available in the fight against terror, and it is vital that we make it easier to enable information sharing and cooperation to take place between national governments.

"By collecting, sharing and analysing even simple Passenger Name Records information, governments are able to track suspicious behaviour and follow up on it. While of course this will not deter all terrorists, countries which use PNR data already - such as the USA and the UK - have shown that it is highly effective. For example, PNR data played a significant role in capturing some of those involved in the 2005 7/7 bombings in London and also the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. It will also assist in the fight against trafficking drugs, people or weapons; cybercrime; and the sexual exploitation of children.

"The recent phenomenon of so-called ‘foreign fighters’ returning from the Middle East, poses many challenges for our intelligence agencies. Collecting PNR data can be instrumental in detecting and tracking suspicious behaviour of radicalised individuals.

"Now the next step is for national governments to implement it. I am glad that the vast majority of MEPs have approved this agreement which was steered through the Parliament by my ECR Group colleague Timothy Kirkhope. It will be crucial in strengthening our response to the terrorist threat. It is however unfortunate that a small number of MEPs, including Sinn Fein representatives, rejected this agreement.  

"Sinn Fein say there should be no hiding place for the attackers of Brussels or Paris, yet at every turn they oppose any serious action to clamp down on terrorism and serious crime. I think that is shameful.”