EU Doubts Ability to Comply With Passenger Data Demands

By The Moscow Times

Oct. 13, 2013

BRUSSELS — The EU has expressed doubts about whether it can comply with Russian demands to provide the personal data of all European passengers flying to or over Russia.

A European Council representative said Friday that there was no legal mechanism in EU nations for the data to be provided.

The requirement, which also applies to travelers on ships and trains, is the outcome of reforms to Russia's Transportation Ministry, which has now been given responsibility for overseeing transport security.

Under recently introduced legislation, all data collected by the Transportation Ministry will be collated in centralized data banks shared with the Interior Ministry and Federal Security Service.

Western media has reported that information given by passengers while purchasing a flight will now have to be given to Russia within 30 minutes of the ticket being booked.

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