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Belgium, France suggest European PNR system to combat terrorism

BRUSSELS, Aug 1 (KUNA) -- The interior ministers of Belgium Joelle Milquet, and France Manuel Valls Thursday issued a joint statement proposing a PNR (passenger name record) system to track European citizens and prevent them from going to fight in Syria or elsewhere.
The statement noted that during the EU Interior Ministers meeting in June in Luxembourg, the Belgian and French interior ministers had organized a meeting "on the worrying phenomenon of EU citizens traveling to Syria to participate in combat, often alongside terrorist organizations." At this meeting, it became apparent that "one of the most effective tools to monitor these people, both when they go to Syria, or in other areas of conflict, but also when they return to their country would be able to have a system called European PNR," it said. "This would allow their competent authorities to detect and track the movement of these people to identify and prevent those, often young and vulnerable, who might be tempted to risk their lives by going to the area of conflict but also, if necessary, to prevent terrorist attacks on European soil, " said the statement. It added that, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, United Kingdom and Sweden also support the initiative. (end) nk.gb KUNA 012244 Aug 13NNNN