OSCE consults with Montenegrin authorities on next steps in establishing an Advance Passenger Information system

How to set up a national Advance Passenger Information (API) system to detect and deter the movement of foreign terrorist fighters was the focus of a four-day consultation between the OSCE and relevant Montenegrin authorities, which concluded in Podgorica on 8 March 2018.

Organized by the OSCE Transnational Threats Department with the support of the OSCE Mission in Montenegro, this was the first of a series of consultations that will take place in all locations that have previously held OSCE national workshops on establishing an API System.

Some 20 representatives from Montenegrin agencies with responsibility for passenger processing and aviation security, including members of the Police and Customs Administration, the Civil Aviation Authority, the National Security Agency, the Agency for Personal Data Protection, as well as legal and IT experts from the Interior Ministry, took part in the consultations.

The consultation aimed to provide legislative and technical support to Montenegro’s national authorities in implementing an API system. The participants reviewed and discussed the recommendations of the Road Map for Establishing an API System that was developed during the API workshop in Podgorica in May 2017 with OSCE and national participants and international experts.

Recommendations included the creation of a single window – one government authority to receive passenger data on behalf of all other national agencies – and a stakeholder consultation group for engagement with airlines.

Assisted by an independent consultant, participants identified ways for improving the national legislation to grant law enforcement officials the legal authority to collect and process passenger data while fully respecting citizens’ right to privacy.

Commercial service providers and experts from the United States also attended the event to share their experience and best practices in working with API data and to present specific solutions for Montenegro based on their user requirements. During the last day of meetings, participants reviewed and updated the Roadmap based on the conclusions of the discussions and agreed on the next steps for the implementation of the API system.

API systems are electronic communications systems through which biographic data from a traveller’s passport and flight details are collected by airlines and transmitted to border control agencies before a flight’s arrival. The OSCE is supporting its participating States in establishing API systems as part of the Organization’s activities in enhancing border security and combating terrorism.