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European Parliament will vote to halt supply of Airline passenger data to U.S.
March 12, 2003 12:00 AM
MEPs are expected to call for a suspension of a controversial deal to provide the US with key information on airline passengers - including obviously Islamic names and ethnic meal requirements - due to concern that it breaches EU data protection laws.
The European Commission's agreement for airlines to provide the information came into force earlier this month but MEPs have raised doubts over its legal status, its compatibility with EU data privacy rules, and the adequacy of safeguards over how data would be used once in US databases.
MEPs from all political groups will tomorrow support amendments to a European Parliament resolution that express disappointment in the Commission's failure to carry out its responsibility to uphold EU law by assessing the compatibility of the move with data protection legislation. A majority of parliamentarians will call for a suspension of the agreement until the legal uncertainties have been settled and the data privacy concerns have been answered.
Sarah Ludford, Home Affairs spokesperson for the liberal group, led the drafting of these amendments:
"This agreement threatens the fundamental rights of travellers and puts Europe's airlines over a barrel.
"The US seems to be interpreting the agreement as an invitation to gain direct access to databases that can be linked to information on an individual's religion or ethnic group, financial data, contact details, or medical information. This is real data- mining territory for the US.
"Meanwhile Europe's airlines must break the EU's data protection directive or face stiff penalties from the US such as the suspension of landing rights. This arrangement must be suspended until the Commission can come up with a decision that fully addresses all of these concerns."
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