Brussels, 06/03/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is in favour of settling the issue of a country's access to databases on airline passengers travelling to their territory by means of a multilateral text within the framework of ICAO, a Commission spokesperson indicated on Wednesday. Senior European and American officials met on Tuesday to put the finishing touches to the agreement, which entered into force on Wednesday, on access by American authorities to databases held by airlines on passengers entering their territory. They decided that information protected under European rules, particularly those relating to religion or health, "will not be used by the United States" to target people for checks, according to a spokesperson. But information on passengers ordering halal or kosher meals will be passed on. If you prefer this information not to be made available, "the choice is clear- either you do not go to the United States, or you go for the sandwich option", declared spokesperson Jonathan Todd. The Commission will meet members of the aeronautical industry on 15 March to discuss consolidation of the temporary arrangement concluded with the United States by a formal decision (see EUROPE of 5 March, p.14).