EU, Canada sign accord on passenger name record transfer

The EU and Canada signed here Wednesday their new agreement on the processing and transfer of Passenger Name Record (PNR) data by air carriers to the Canadian authorities.
The pact will replace the existing agreement from 2006, noted an EU statement.
The goal of the agreement is to set a legal framework for the transfer of PNR data by carriers operating passenger flights between the European Union and Canada to the Canadian competent authority and the subsequent use of that data by these authorities.
The data may be used to prevent, detect, investigate and prosecute terrorist offenses or serious transnational crimes.
The European Parliament will now be asked to give its consent to the agreement, which is necessary before the EU Council of Ministers can adopt its decision on the conclusion of the agreement.
The EU currently has agreements on the transfer and use of PNR with Australia, Canada and the United States of America