These days in the European Parliament there were debates on two important topics, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and the Directive on the exchange of data on air traffic passengers, or Passenger Name Records (PNR). Due to trade liberalization, the TTIP should have a positive effect on Europe as well as the USA. European Commission studies show that the EU economy would benefit from 119 billion euro per year which is the equivalent of an additional 545 EUR per average household in the EU. Promoting trade is a good way to stimulate the economy by creating increased demand and supply without the need to increase public spending or borrowing.
However, since European standards are not subject to negotiation and since negotiations must always have a European perspective, Dubravka Šuica pointed out: ˝We have to open up to trade with the US in the framework of our culture, traditions and customs. The TTIP should make us more competitive, it would positively influence the growth of the number of those employed and it would help to maintain the standards that we are used to as citizens of the EU˝.
On the other hand, one of the requirements of the United States in the TTIP agreement will be the unhindered exchange of private data on air traffic passengers, about which there was a debate recently. New terrorist attacks represent a new threat to security in Europe but also an attack on freedom of thought and speech.
˝We are obliged to ensure citizens fo the EU a high level of security within the area of freedom, security and justice, and this requires appropriate reforms. I think it is high time that Europe unites once more, but this time based on better cooperation between national authorities, intelligence services, and most of all, I appeal for voting in favour of the Directive on the exchange of passenger data in air traffic that will enable a smooth exchange of private data about passengers in an aircraft landing or taking off from anywhere in the EU˝, said Šuica.
The Directive would facilitate the exchange of information such as identity, address, date of travel, destination among EU countries and data would be submitted by the airlines. After recent events, I think that it is a fundamental human right to feel safe in any EU country, and for me this is more important than the protection of personal data˝, added Šuica.
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