French Interior Minister renews call for EU passenger screening

The French Interior Minister on Tuesday night renewed his call for stricter borders to be imposed within the European Union following today's deadly attacks in neighbouring Belgium.

Speaking on the France 2 television channel, Bernard Cazeneuve urged the European Parliament to implement security plans that would allow members of the visa-free Schengen travel zone to retain the information of all EU passengers flying within the zone.

Cazeneuve pushed for the restrictions, known as Passenger Name Record (PNR), to be implemented on an accelerated time-scale following attacks in Paris last November that killed 130 people.

However, since his call for them the plan has floundered, with critical MEPs citing concerns over civil liberties.

They have now pledged to finalise a draft of a directive by the end of the year.

On Tuesday night Cazeneuve said the European Parliament must act to implement the PNR.

"The European Parliament has to understand that to fail to push forward with PNR would be to deprive [the EU] of an effective tool against terror."