Parliament set for row over air passenger data

Date: 25/03/04

By Martin Banks

MEPS are set for a bitter clash next week over a controversial deal the European Commission has struck with the US on transfer of air passenger data.

The Commission agreed three months ago that airlines should pass on passenger details, including travellers' addresses, credit card numbers and dates of birth, to American authorities, to enable security checks to be made before travellers' arrival in the US.

Washington has required all domestic carriers to provide such information since the 11 September 2001 attacks and has been pressing all overseas operators to fall into line.

Earlier this month, however, the European Parliament's citizens' rights committee voted in favour of a report expressing opposition to the deal. MEPs will vote on the report, drafted by the committee's vice-chairwoman, Dutch Liberal Johanna Boogerd-Quaak, at next week's Strasbourg plenary.

The vote is expected to be a close-run thing with many deputies, including a large number from the biggest political group the European People's Party, set to vote against.

If adopted, the report could pave the way for Parliament to challenge the legality of the deal before the European Court of Justice. If the court rules in the report's favour, the Commission may have to renegotiate the agreement.

Boogerd-Quaak has this week set the scene for a potentially stormy debate in Strasbourg with an exchange of letters with German centre-right deputy Elmar Brok, chairman of the foreign affairs committee.

In his letter, Brok says he is satisfied the current deal provides adequate safeguards for passengers. Boogerd-Quaak replied by saying that, while shocked by Madrid and the rising threat of terrorist attacks in Europe, she does not agree the deal guarantees high data-protection standards.

The European Parliament will debate a motion for a resolution on data protection for air passengers on 29 March 2004, which will be voted on 30 March. The European Commission has agreed to transfer air passenger data to the United States before travellers' arrival in the US.

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