BRUSSELS - Top European and US officials failed to reach agreement on Friday to replace an annulled deal on sharing air passenger data due to expire on Sept. 30, a European Commission spokesman said. “We will continue talks next week. Both parties are committed to finalise the agreement by the end of this month,” said Friso Roscam Abbing of discussions aimed at avoiding possible air travel disruption when the current deal expires.
Under post-9/11 anti-terrorism arrangements, European airlines supply US authorities with information on passengers entering the United States including their name, address, payment details and telephone numbers. But an EU court struck down the existing deal on a legal technicality in May and gave the European Union and the United States until Sept. 30 to replace it.
| You'd think that if their heart was in it, the Euros could fix this quickly. You know, if their heart was in it. |
US Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff has since called for greater access to EU passenger data, but the EUÂ’s justice chief stressed time was short and urged Washington to accept merely a change in how the deal is framed legally.
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