Belgium Expands Passenger Data Checks
Belgium introduced rules requiring passenger data to be collected and checked for people traveling to, from, or through the country on international transport services. The system covers several forms of international transportation, including high-speed trains and scheduled international bus services, as part of Belgium’s broader passenger information system.
Under the rules, transport companies and travel operators must provide passenger information to Belgium’s passenger information database, with specific requirements applying to each type of transportation. The system was introduced gradually, with high-speed train operators and international bus companies being given specific obligations regarding the information they must transmit and when it must be sent.
In 2018, FlixBus and Eurostar were among the companies involved in the implementation and testing of the passenger data system, while other international transport operators were expected to follow the same requirements.
Passenger data from air travel is also processed under the Belgian system, which was designed to allow authorities to compare passenger information with relevant databases and identify potential security concerns. The Passenger Information Unit, known as the PIU, operates within the Belgian Interior Ministry and includes personnel from the Federal Police, Customs, State Security and military intelligence services.
Why Belgium Checks Passenger Data?
The system allows passenger information to be compared with databases containing information about wanted people and other relevant records. According to the Belgian government, the purpose includes detecting and investigating serious crime and terrorism, improving border controls and combating illegal immigration.
Passenger data can therefore be used to help authorities identify people who may be linked to serious criminal activity or other security concerns before or during their arrival in Belgium, while the system also includes rules governing access to and the processing of personal information.
The measures apply to international transport services, while certain local or specialized trips are treated differently depending on the type of service and the applicable regulations.
City-trip buses traveling abroad are not necessarily covered in the same way as scheduled international bus services, so passengers using these services should check the specific requirements that apply to their operator and route.
