Brussels, 13/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - In Brussels on Thursday 13 January, the European Commission kicked off the first round of talks on revising the EU's agreements with the United States, Canada and Australia on the transfer of EU passenger information (PNR) for counter-terror purposes. On 25 and 26 January, talks will being with Canada and on 27 and 28 January, talks with Australia.
On 2 December 2010, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström, was mandated by the Council of Ministers (receiving 3 mandates, in fact) to negotiate a new PNR deal with each of the three countries in question. This became tricky as a result of the European Parliament refusing to endorse the previous PNR deal in May 2009 (that had been temporarily applicable since 2007) on the grounds that the deal did not give the Europeans enough guarantees of the confidentiality of the information provided. The EP is part of decision-making on this issue under the new Lisbon Treaty. In May 2009, it suspended its vote on the issue and will now be monitoring developments very closely via its rapporteur, Sophie In't Veld (ALDE, the Netherlands). Thursday's talks in Brussels are expected to cover the two dozen issues raised by the EU Council of Ministers and, as required by the EP, are also expected to cover the quality and mechanics of data protection for European air passengers. One issue is the setting up of a legal complaints mechanism for Europeans whose information has been abused, explained a close source. A mechanism valid in the United States for example, which should involve the thinking of both sides of the Atlantic. Such appeals are administrative in nature in the United States, but can go as far as being covered by criminal courts in Europe. Another issue is the length of time that EU passenger information can be kept and the provision of more confidential information like political leanings or religion. Sophie In't Veld says that the EP will remain vigilant and demand a very high level of privacy protection. She said the talks will be tough and there will be a high level of pressure because it is known that if the deal is rejected, some airlines could lose their rights to land in the United States (or could be fined) and there might also be a negative impact in terms of the US' visa policy and Europeans' freedom to travel in the United States. This can be described as being close to blackmail from the United States, added Sophie In't Veld. (S.P./transl.fl)