Spain seeks data from non-Schengen air passengers

Spain has begun requesting passengers flying from countries outside the Schengen zone, including non-EU member states, to supply infor-mation such as their passport numbers, natio-nality, gender and date of birth ahead of their trips.

The information, known as advanced passenger information, is being collected as part of an EU directive adopted in 2004, aimed "at improving border controls and combating illegal immigration". The directive was suggested by Spain in response to the Madrid bombings in March 2004.

Airlines began advising customers that the information was required and could be supplied online or at check-in. Spain is the first EU country to apply the directive which had a deadline for transposition on 5 September 2006. All member states, except for Denmark, are obliged to collect the information.

Françoise Humbert, spokeswoman for the Association of European Airlines, said that she would have liked to see all EU countries requesting the information at the same time. "We deplore the fact that it is not being implemented across the board by all member states, thereby making it easier for airlines and passengers," she said.

A row between the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers over access to documents has been resolved with the Council agreeing to give MEPs information on how ready new member states are to have their borders in the passport-free Schengen zone lifted. The Council has agreed to give MEPs on the civil liberties committee the conclusions of evaluation reports on the preparedness of the nine member states to join the Schengen zone. The full reports and related documents can be read by MEPs in the Council buildings.

Jean-Marie Cavada, a French Liberal MEP and chairman of the civil liberties committee, yesterday (19 September) wrote to Rui Pereira, the Portuguese Minister of the Interior, welcoming the move by the Council.

The rapporteur on the expansion of the Schengen zone, Carlos Coelho, a Portuguese centre-right MEP, last week protested to the Council over a decision not to supply MEPs with information on the evaluation but allowing them instead to visit the Council to view the documents.

Spain has begun requesting passengers flying from countries outside the Schengen zone, including non-EU member states, to supply infor-mation such as their passport numbers, natio-nality, gender and date of birth ahead of their trips.