Date: 2025-09-25Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
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
**Executive Summary**
This Council Decision (EU) 2025/1965, dated 22 September 2025, authorises the signing, on behalf of the European Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and Iceland on the transfer of passenger name record (PNR) data. This data transfer is for the prevention, detection, investigation, and prosecution of terrorist offences and serious crime. The Decision enters into force on the date of its adoption.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Agreement Authorization:**
* The Council authorises the signing of the Agreement between the EU and Iceland regarding PNR data transfer.
* The authorisation is subject to the conclusion of the agreement.
* **PNR Data Transfer:**
* The agreement facilitates the transfer of PNR data by air carriers from the EU to Iceland.
* The agreement respects fundamental rights, including the protection of personal data.
* **Objectives:**
* To foster police and judicial cooperation.
* To strengthen external borders and ensure internal security.
* **Member State Participation:**
* Ireland intends to participate in the adoption and application of this Decision.
* Denmark is not participating and is not bound by the Decision.
**Impact Analysis**
**European Union:**
* **Impact:** Enhances security measures and international cooperation in combating terrorism and serious crime.
* **Action Required:** Ensure the Agreement is signed and implemented in accordance with the Decision.
**Iceland:**
* **Impact:** Receives PNR data from the EU to aid in preventing, detecting, investigating, and prosecuting terrorist offences and serious crime, while adhering to data protection standards.
* **Action Required:** Uphold data protection rights and adhere to the terms of the agreement regarding the use and processing of PNR data.
**Air Carriers:**
* **Impact:** Required to transfer PNR data from the EU to Iceland.
* **Action Required:** Implement the necessary procedures and technical capabilities to comply with the PNR data transfer requirements.
Key Entities Referenced
Agreement between the European Union and Iceland on the transfer of passenger name record (PNR) data: An international agreement concerning the transfer of passenger name record (PNR) data for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of terrorist offences and serious crime.
Council Decision (EU) 2025/1965: A decision of the Council of the European Union authorizing the signing of the Agreement between the European Union and Iceland on the transfer of passenger name record (PNR) data on behalf of the Union.
Council of the European Union: The issuing body of the decision to sign the PNR data transfer agreement with Iceland.
European Data Protection Supervisor: Supervisory authority consulted to ensure compliance with data protection regulations.
Iceland: A nation-state and party to the Agreement between the European Union and Iceland on the transfer of passenger name record (PNR) data.
Official Journal EN
of the European Union 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).
(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 1/2EN
OJ L, 25.9.2025
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
2/2 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1965/oj