IMPLEMENTATION OF THE API/PNR SYSTEM IN THE SPHERE OF COUNTERING TERRORIST ACTIVITY

Abstract

This article is devoted to the future deployment and functioning of the advance passenger information (API) and passenger registration records (PNR) system in Ukraine. In addition, the draft law of Ukraine «On amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine regarding the improvement of combating terrorism» has been analyzed and arguments as to why this particular draft law needs to be revised have been grounded. It has been suggested that in today’s conditions, the system of measures of anti-terrorist activity, in connection with Ukraine’s choice towards the European community and direct European integration, should correspond to the level of terrorist threat that exists in the state, which is primarily related to the development of war declared by the russian federation. The urgency of improving the anti-terrorist legislation, and the expediency of determining the entities and units that will work directly with this system have been grounded in the article. In addition, the concept of «interviewing» has been described. Also, it has been emphasized that in order to use it more effectively, there is a need to use the technique of «profiling» by border guards while performing their official duties for the protection of the state border of Ukraine. It has been noted that the above-mentioned event is widely used abroad and has already proven to be highly effective. Therefore, one of the main tasks of combating terrorist activities on the state border of Ukraine is comprehensive capabilities strengthening of the national system of combating terrorism. The need to comprehensively strengthen the capabilities of the system of combating terrorism requires legislative, organizational, and other changes. In particular, the list of counterterrorist activities needs to be revised, as well as the need to implement the possibility of using warning mechanisms to identify terrorist threats. One of these mechanisms is the implementation and functioning of the API/PNR system in Ukraine, which will allow early identification of persons (airline passengers) who may be members of terrorist organizations or be involved in other types of illegal activities at the state border of Ukraine. In the conditions of war, the introduction of this system is not possible, however, attention should be paid to the issue of preparation for such introduction, including the development and adoption of relevant normative legal acts, even more so in accordance with the obligations that our state has assumed.