Council Decision (EU) 2025/1965 of 22 September 2025 on the signing, on behalf of the Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and Iceland on the transfer of passenger name record (PNR) data for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of terrorist offences and serious crime
Date: 2025-09-22
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: Iceland, agreement (EU), air transport, data protection, exchange of information, fight against crime, personal data, protection of privacy, signature of an agreement, terrorism, traveller








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Official Journal of the European Union


EN
L series













2025/1965


25.9.2025







            COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2025/1965
         
of 22 September 2025
         
on the signing, on behalf of the Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and Iceland on the transfer of passenger name record (PNR) data for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of terrorist offences and serious crime


THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 16(2) and Article 87(2), point (a), in conjunction with Article 218(5) thereof,


Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:







(1)


On 4 March 2024, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with Iceland for an agreement between the European Union and Iceland on the transfer of passenger name record (PNR) data for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of terrorist offences and serious crime (the ‘Agreement’). The negotiations were successfully concluded by the initialling of the Agreement on 9 April 2025.












(2)


The Agreement provides for the transfer of PNR data by air carriers from the Union to Iceland in full respect of the rights provided in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, in particular the right to respect for private and family life and the right to the protection of personal data, recognised in Articles 7 and 8, respectively, thereof. In particular, the Agreement includes appropriate safeguards for the protection of personal data transferred under it.












(3)


The Agreement fosters police and judicial cooperation between the competent authorities of Iceland and those of the Member States as well as Europol and Eurojust, with the aim to enhance their capabilities to strengthen the external borders of the Union and of Iceland, as well as to effectively ensure internal security in the absence of internal border controls within the Schengen area.












(4)


In accordance with Article 3 of Protocol No 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice, annexed to the Treaty on European Union (TEU) and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), Ireland has notified, by letter of 29 July 2025, its wish to take part in the adoption and application of this Decision.












(5)


In accordance with Articles 1 and 2 of Protocol No 22 on the position of Denmark, annexed to the TEU and to the TFEU, Denmark is not taking part in the adoption of this Decision and is not bound by it or subject to its application,












(6)


The European Data Protection Supervisor was consulted in accordance with Article 42(1) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1) and delivered its Opinion 15/2025 on 24 July 2025 (2).












(7)


Therefore, the Agreement should be signed,





HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:



Article 1
The signing of the Agreement between the European Union and Iceland on the transfer of passenger name record (PNR) data for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of terrorist offences and serious crime is hereby authorised on behalf of the Union, subject to the conclusion of the said Agreement (3).


Article 2
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.




Done at Brussels, 22 September 2025.


For the Council


The President

J. JENSEN
            





(1)  Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2018 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 and Decision No 1247/2002/EC (OJ L 295, 21.11.2018, p. 39, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2018/1725/oj).

(2)  Not yet published in the Official Journal.

(3)  The text of the Agreement will be published together with the decision on its conclusion.


ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1965/oj
ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)