Switzerland to Gather Passenger Information for Flights Arriving from Non-EU Nations
Ready for some juicy details about the Swiss government's latest move on immigration? Let's dive in, shall we?
In a bold stride to squash illegal immigration, the Swiss government has given the nod to fresh EU rules concerning the advance transmission of passenger data. Announced recently, this decision, subject to parliamentary approval, has stirred quite a buzz (or perhaps, a fuss?).
"On January 15th, the Federal Council gave the green light, and instructed the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP) to prepare the necessary legislative amendments," a press release explained.
This action means that all flights originating from non-EU/EFTA states, say, the UK and North America, will in the future, have their passenger information automatically gathered and sent to border authorities. The idea here is to make it a breeze for authorities to spot air passengers attempting to sneak into the Schengen area illegally or those who pose a security threat.
But fear not, data protection provisions will undergo necessary adjustments for this mission. Additionally, a new national supervisory authority will be established, and airlines breaking the rules will face stiff penalties.
Now, let's chat a bit about the nitty-gritty. The EU's latest demand for passenger data transmission is largely governed by international agreements and the PNR Directive (2016), with the focus shifting towards cooperation with third countries like Canada. Though specific terms for EU-Switzerland collaboration aren't detailed, here's the lowdown on the key elements governing such exchanges:
- Data Scope: Includes passenger names, travel dates, itineraries, seats, baggage, contact details, and payment information.
- Retention Period: PNR data can't be kept for over 6 months initially. After that, the data is only kept if it's necessary and proportionate for counterterrorism or serious crime prevention.
- Purpose: Analysis of PNR data to identify criminal patterns linked to terrorism or transnational crime.
- Data Protection Safeguards: Explicit exclusion of processing data revealing racial/ethnic origin, political opinions, religion, health status, or sexual orientation. Independent authorities monitor compliance with data protection rules, and passengers must be informed about data processing unless it hinders investigations.
The timeline for this new measure is as follows:
- The EU will have the technical solution for data collection ready by the end of 2028.
- Switzerland, along with EU states and airlines, will then have two years to test the system and implement the changes, which will become mandatory from 2031.
So there you have it! The government's cracking down on illegal immigration in a whole new way. Stay tuned for more updates as they come.
- The Swiss government, in response to EU rules, has given the go-ahead for fresh policies focusing on the mandatory advance transmission of passenger data.
- This new policy-and-legislation, set to be implemented following parliamentary approval, has sparked discussions among EU passengers and in the realm of politics and general news.
- Under this policy, all flights originating from non-EU/EFTA states, including the UK and North America, will soon have their passenger information automatically collected and forwarded to border authorities.
- In an effort to protect passenger data and ensure compliance with the new policy, the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP) will establish a national supervisory authority, and airlines breaking the rules will face penalties.
