Brussels, 09/12/2010 (Agence Europe) - The European Union and the United States have announced the launch of talks in Washington on the transfer of air passenger information (Passenger Name Records, PNR) for the purposes of combating terrorism and on personal data protection. On Wednesday 8 December, US Deputy Secretary for Homeland Security Jane Holl Lute and European Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmström issued a joint statement. “We reaffirm our mutual intention to ensure security, including combating terrorism and serious transnational crime, while respecting the privacy of passengers”, they said. “The United States and the European Union are determined to reach fully operational and effective agreement as quickly as possible”, they added, noting that discussions on the technicalities will begin in January. Negotiations “will build upon our positive experience with the 2007 agreement, which will remain in effect during these negotiations, while taking into account our shared commitment to protecting the vital, inextricable interests of security and protection of personal data”, they stated. The US is the first of three countries - Canada and Australia are the other two - with which the EU has announced the start of PNR negotiations. On 2 December, EU home affairs ministers adopted three identical negotiating mandates for talks with the three countries setting out specific objectives for the Commission (see EUROPE 10269).
On Thursday 9 December, the EU and the US also opened negotiations with a view to an agreement on the protection of personal data. EU justice ministers adopted the negotiating mandate on 3 December (see EUROPE 10270). “I am convinced that working together we can negotiate a solid and coherent agreement with the US,” one that “balances” credible rights for individuals and the need for strong cooperation to combat terrorism and organised crime, said Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding in a statement issued on the eve of the start of negotiations. “Speedy progress on the comprehensive EU-US data protection agreement will significantly facilitate all data transfers necessary to fight terrorism and transnational organised crime”, she argued. (B.C./transl.rt)