03/03/2003 (Agence Europe) - The chairman of the Article 29 working group, responsible for data protection, calls for deferral of the entry into force - scheduled for 5 March - of the authorisation to the United States to have access to data concerning European air passengers. Stefano Rodotà wrote in a letter, forwarded to the presidents of the Commission, the European Council and the EP Committee on Citizens' Rights, on Monday, that the joint declaration approved mid-February between officials of the United States and of the Commission, "though meant to simplify the relationships between EU and USA, … would therefore be in danger of giving rise to new, more marked conflicts" (EUROPE of 20 February, p.8). He stresses that it is not clear whether this declaration gives a sufficient legal base for the airline companies to authorise access to their data in derogation of the general data protection rules, and that it would be necessary to postpone the time again "for as long as required in order to finalise a quick formal procedure in line with the Directive, or else to allow the (Article 29) working party to consider this issue also at its next meeting of 20 and 21 March 2003".