Countering risks posed by returning foreign terrorist fighters discussed at OSCE-wide Seminar on Passenger Data Exchange

More than 150 experts and law enforcement officials from OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation took part in the OSCE’s Second OSCE-wide Seminar on Passenger Data Exchange organized by the OSCE Transnational Threats Department’s Border Security and Management Unit on 1 and 2 November 2018 in Vienna.

The seminar aimed at helping participants better understand their international obligations related to border management included in United Nations Security Council Resolution 2396, to identify their technical assistance needs and determine how the OSCE can support states in implementing their obligations.

Resolution 2396, which was adopted in 2017 amid an increased risk of returning foreign terrorist fighters following the loss of territory by terrorist groups in conflict zones, mandates states to strengthen border security by establishing passenger data exchange systems and developing systems to collect biometric data, and by sharing this information bilaterally and multilaterally.

“Implementing Resolution 2396 will be a challenge for us all,” said Rasa Ostrauskaite, Co-ordinator of Activities to Address Transnational Threats. “However, we cannot stand still and hope that the threats around us disappear. We must meet the challenge, co-operate more effectively and fully utilize all available tools to deal with the threat posed by terrorists and their networks.”

Experts from OSCE participating States and commercial service providers delivered presentations on the Advance Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) systems, and also highlighted the financial and technical support available from donor states and international organizations in implementing these systems.

The Biometrics Institute and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism discussed their work in supporting states in collecting and processing biometric information, while representatives of INTERPOL, the European Agency for the operational management of large-scale IT systems in the area of freedom, security and justice (eu-LISA), and the United States highlighted how the effective use of regional and international databases can enhance information sharing between states.

The seminar also functioned as the Sixth Thematic Meeting of the OSCE Border Security and Management National Focal Point Network. The Network, which is comprised of 103 contact points from 53 OSCE participating States, was established in 2006 to facilitate the exchange of information and best practices between national borders services.