Airlines will have to share security-relevant passenger information with authorities ahead of flights, a vote passed by the European Parliament in Strasbourg outlined on Thursday.
Two new laws are aimed at "enhancing security at the EU's external borders and boosting the fight against crime respectively," parliament said.
"Companies will have to collect and transmit passenger data, including name, date of birth, nationality, and passport details, systematically to competent authorities," it said.
EU member states still have to approve the changes, but this is seen as a formality.
"These laws will prove very useful in the fight against terrorism and organized crime," Belgian rapporteur on law enforcement to parliament Assita Kanko said. "This reform makes life easier for regular travellers, but harder for criminals."
The reform also complied with the European Court of Justice's ruling on gathering data on intra-EU flights and ensured that private data remained protected, Kanko said.