EU and U.S. shape a deal on passenger data (itineraries, credit card #'s)

[rainbow4321]

http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/09/28/news/euair.php

European Union officials rushed here for last-minute negotiations Thursday over a proposed agreement with the United States on the exchange of security information from trans-Atlantic airline passengers.

Sources close to the negotiations, who could not be identified because of the sensitivity of the talks, said there was reasonable possibility that the accord could be reached by Friday, the target set by the United States.

The central dispute does not involve the nature of the passenger data to be shared but the technical issue of who would provide it. The agreement would give the U.S. authorities access to 34 categories of information including names, addresses, phone numbers, itineraries and credit card numbers of passengers on all U.S. flights originating in the 25 EU nations

<snip>
Members of the European Parliament, which challenged the initial data- sharing agreement, have said they fear the European Commission would put the interests of the United States ahead of those of European citizens in future negotiations.

[Eugene]

1. AP: EU-US airline data talks collapse

Last Updated: Saturday, 30 September 2006, 20:00 GMT 21:00 UK

EU-US airline data talks collapse

Talks between the United States and the European Union on transferring data
and information on airline passengers have broken down.

The two sides had been trying to reach a deal on sharing data after an EU
court struck down an earlier agreement.

A European Commission spokesman said the failure to agree would create
a "legal vacuum".

Airlines refusing to provide passenger lists to the US may lose landing
rights and also face legal action from the EU.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5395928.stm

BushCo + legal vacuum = no good result