API workshop with Commission representatives

17 April 2023: In December 2022, the European Commission adopted two proposals to strengthen the use of API data as a key action in the EU Security Union Strategy. The proposals have already entered the codecision process.

As the LIBE Committee is responsible for analysing such regulations, the rapporteur has been recently pointed out, it will be Jan-Christoph OETJEN. He also is a member of TRAN Committee and was pointed out as the rapporteur for opinion of these proposals. He has already demonstrated his concern over aviation’s challenges.

ERA has been working closely with IATA and A4E to prepare a joint position paper raising the main concerns of the members and to organise a workshop. An event took place on last Friday in IATA's Brussels office. We had the opportunity to welcome experts from DG HOME and several airline members.  

Experts from DG HOME mentioned:

• the publication of a Delegated Act and an Implementation Act;
• the possible timeline of the implementation; and
• the functioning and protocols of API data format and collection.

On the other side, airline members asked about:

• the interactive feasibility of the router;
• the identity border check when boarding;
• the public information campaign; and
• the restrictiveness and penalties of the legislation.

This exchange was an informal discussion. Many details still have to be presented by the European Commission through a Delegated Act and the agency eu-LISA still have to provide a new router for API data. Only then, there will be an Implementation Act and the router will be able to connect with the carrier interface. There also should be a transitional phase before the system become mandatory.