As EU president, Denmark anticipates that an agreement will be reached today in Luxembourg on the implementation of a European Passenger Name Records (PNR) system for exchanging passenger information. Morten Bødskov, the Danish minister of justice and the chairman of the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council, said that the establishment of the PNR system will help curb terrorism and other serious crimes such as human trafficking and drugs smuggling.
“We must consequently and effectively prosecute persons who commit acts of terrorism. I want to make sure that we have effective and up-to-date investigative tools,” Bødskov said in a release prior to the meeting. “It is the only way to ensure that we are able to maintain coherent efforts to fight terrorism and other serious crime in a globalised world where criminals move across borders. Therefore, I hope that at the council meeting we will be able to reach agreement on the establishment of a European system for exchanging passenger information. Such a system would be an important investigative tool in fighting terrorism. Due to the Danish [EU opt-outs], Denmark will unfortunately not be able to take part in this new cooperation.”
Additionally, Denmark is also expecting the council to sign a pact on introducing a ban against private persons’ possession of a number of chemical substances which are used in making of homemade explosives. Bødskov also intends to get political support for several initiatives aimed at helping radicalised people out of extremist environments.
“Where possible, we must act before words turn into concrete action,” Bødskov added. “Therefore, at the council meeting I will propose to strengthen the efforts regarding de-radicalisation.”
Furthermore, Bødskov will present an EU Action Plan to combat illegal migration, which will include 80 concrete initiatives.
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