Brussels to fight for EU passenger privacy on US flights
Brussels to fight for EU passenger privacy on US flights
article published at EUoberver By Renata Goldirova
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - EU justice commissioner Franco Frattini has said he will push for a reduction in the amount of air passengers' data provided to the US, amid efforts to update a controversial EU-US data sharing agreement which will expire by the end of July.
The reduction of 34 pieces of passenger records – which Washington considers key to its security programme - "would not harm counter-terrorism efforts", Mr Frattini told the European Parliament in a debate which saw the commissioner grilled by MEPs on Wednesday (31 January).
Mr Frattini underlined the need to strike a balance between the requirements of fighting terrorism and concerns about data protection, saying that "privacy rights are non-negotiable."
His comments were echoed by German minister of State Günther Gloser, speaking on behalf of EU member states.
In around two weeks time Germany - currently holding the EU presidency - is expected to gain a negotiation mandate from EU capitals, which are currently hammering out its final terms.
The formal talks with Washington are expected to kick off in March.
According to Mr Gloser, negotiations will be "extremely torturous", as Washington is "not as interested in data protection" as the 27-nation bloc.
Under the current hard-fought deal, Washington collects 34 pieces of data on each EU traveller, including name, address, phone number, form of payment and credit card details, with airlines being threatened with fines of $6,000 per passenger or withdrawal of landing rights if they fly to the US without providing required information.
Read the full article at EUobserver.com
article published at EUoberver By Renata Goldirova
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - EU justice commissioner Franco Frattini has said he will push for a reduction in the amount of air passengers' data provided to the US, amid efforts to update a controversial EU-US data sharing agreement which will expire by the end of July.
The reduction of 34 pieces of passenger records – which Washington considers key to its security programme - "would not harm counter-terrorism efforts", Mr Frattini told the European Parliament in a debate which saw the commissioner grilled by MEPs on Wednesday (31 January).
Mr Frattini underlined the need to strike a balance between the requirements of fighting terrorism and concerns about data protection, saying that "privacy rights are non-negotiable."
His comments were echoed by German minister of State Günther Gloser, speaking on behalf of EU member states.
In around two weeks time Germany - currently holding the EU presidency - is expected to gain a negotiation mandate from EU capitals, which are currently hammering out its final terms.
The formal talks with Washington are expected to kick off in March.
According to Mr Gloser, negotiations will be "extremely torturous", as Washington is "not as interested in data protection" as the 27-nation bloc.
Under the current hard-fought deal, Washington collects 34 pieces of data on each EU traveller, including name, address, phone number, form of payment and credit card details, with airlines being threatened with fines of $6,000 per passenger or withdrawal of landing rights if they fly to the US without providing required information.
Read the full article at EUobserver.com
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