OSCE-wide seminar on benefits of passenger data exchange take place in Vienna

An OSCE-wide Seminar on Passenger Data Exchange for counter-terrorism and border security officers from OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation was held on 28 and 29 September 2017 in Vienna.

Organized by the Border Security and Management Unit of the OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department, the event aimed at providing participating States with a comprehensive understanding of the features, functions and benefits of advance passenger information (API) systems.

API systems are electronic communication systems by which biographic data from a passenger’s passport are collected by airlines and transmitted to border control agencies before a flight’s departure or arrival at the airport of destination. When checked against law enforcement watch lists, such as those of INTERPOL, API data can be an effective tool for enhancing border management and aviation security.

Through the presentation of national experiences in establishing passenger data exchange programmes, participants learned about good practices and potential pitfalls to avoid when setting up national API systems. They were informed about financial and technical support available from donor states and/or international organizations for implementing a passenger data exchange programme.

Experts from the OSCE’s international partners – the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT), and the European Commission – briefed participants about what elements should be included in their national laws in order for airlines to lawfully transmit passenger data and what international standards need to be followed when drafting the appropriate legislation. Representatives of INTERPOL and the European Agency for the operational management of large-scale IT system in the area of freedom, security and justice (eu-LISA) contributed to the discussion of ways of promoting an effective use of regional and international databases and of enhancing information sharing between OSCE participating States.

The seminar was part of the OSCE’s efforts to promote compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolutions 2178 and 2309, which aim at improving international and regional co-operation to prevent the movement of foreign terrorist fighters by expanding the use of API systems around the world.