US Says Information Vital To War On Terrorism

Governments of the European Union want the multi-national parliament to go ahead and approve an agreement with Washington to share passenger data, including credit card information and meal preferences, with US intelligence services.

Last month, the EU Parliament narrowly voted to ask for an EU court opinion before approving the deal, which the US says is critical to fighting the war on terrorism. The US had threatened to fine carriers $6,000 for each passenger whose data is not shared, as well as terminate the landing rights of the airline refusing to cooperate.

The whole battle puts airlines around the world in a mighty tight spot. If they don't comply with the US requirement, they could lose their landing rights. If they comply without consent from the EU, they face more fines.

If the EU Court of Justice decides data-sharing is illegal, then a lot of transatlantic flights could very well be canceled.

The only way out appears to be for European lawmakers to step in. If they vote to comply with the US demand for more information on each passenger, the court question becomes moot.

Newly minted EU members of parliament, freshly picked after the consortium of nations added another ten nations last week, could very well swing the vote. Many of them are viewed as Conservatives who support the US data-sharing plan. Green Party members and Liberal Democrats oppose the measure.

"This is unacceptable. We cannot be asked to vote again and again until the council (of EU governments) and commission get the result they like," said Dutch green Kathalijne Buitenweg.

Supporters of a compromise plan, including the US, say the information would only be used to fight terrorism and organized crime. The types of data collected on each passenger would be limited and it would only be kept on file for three-and-a-half years. If European passengers ran into a problem under the plan, they would have recourse with an American privacy officer.

FMI: www.europa.eu.int