By Lars Pasveer, 6 October 2006 13:10
NEWS
European and US authorities on Friday reached a new interim agreement on the continued exchange of airline passenger data.
In May 2006 the original agreement was annulled by a European court and a deadline for a new deal expired in late September.
European airlines feared either hefty fines or having their landing rights taken away, so an exchange of data went ahead in spite of the ruling by the Court of Justice in Luxemburg. The ruling stated that the exchange of passenger data with the US lacked a sound legal basis but declined to rule on privacy issues.
Both European and US officials vowed to reach a new deal by September, yet talks broke down without results last week. The European parliament called for a change to the way information is shared.
Currently, US border security can peruse the airlines' databases for up to 34 items of information - including names, birthdates, flight data, credit card details, dietary preferences, email addresses and rental accommodations.
The European parliament wants to limit access to the databases. Airlines will in future hand over the requested information, essentially a 'push' system instead of the current 'pull' by American officials.
For now though, the old system stays in place. The new deal will expire no later than 31 July 2007, unless extended by mutual written agreement.
European Union officials won't say when airlines will make the shift to 'information push'. The system will be replaced "in due course", said the EC.
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