EU Justice Ministers to 'thrash out' reinstating passport checks within EU

Update3pm: European Justice Ministers have agreed proposals for an EU Passenger Name Record (PNR) directive.

They have also reached agreement on an automated data exchange process to allow for enhanced information exchange between police forces.

The PNR directive means airlines will be obliged to supply data of all passengers travelling in and out of the EU to the Members State of arrival or departure.

A proposal to enhance the supply of information by member states to Europol was also agreed.

Earlier:

EU Justice Ministers will today discuss suspending the Schengen system for two years, reintroducing passport controls at all European borders.

The move is part of the latest attempt to deal with the refugee crisis, but is also a response to the Paris attacks.

A number of countries, including France and Germany, have already reintroduced passport checks at their borders.

Today's meeting comes ahead of a summit of EU leaders in two weeks time.

European correspondent with the Irish Examiner Anne Cahill said: "This is a curtain-raiser if you like for the EU leaders' summit in two weeks' time.

"There won’t be any decisions taken now, but they will thrash it out and let everybody vent their spleen on the whole thing, then push it forward to the summit."