Brussels, 13/05/2004 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission spokesperson Reijo Kemppinen said on Thursday that the College had confirmed its "guideline" on Wednesday on the agreement concluded with the US on the transfer of data on passengers on board transatlantic flights.
Last December, the European Commission stated that the commitments taken by Washington were "in keeping" with the directive on the protection of data of a personal nature (see EUROPE of 18 December 2003, p.9). The European Parliament is challenging this interpretation. In Strasbourg in April, it asked the Court of Justice for its opinion on the issue, and called upon the Council not to approve the agreement until the Court had taken position (see EUROPE of 22 April, p.12). It repeated this appeal during its May session, the last of this legislature (see EUROPE of 5 May, p.9).
Several sources stated that the President of the Commission, President Prodi, called on Wednesday for the Parliament's sensibilities to be treated with tact, and that such a decision should be communicated to it before it is published.
In curt statements to the press, the spokesperson indicated on Thursday that the European Commission has "not taken a formal decision", but that "nobody was challenging" the guideline followed by the College so far. He added: "it is possible that the formal decision" could be taken by Monday, when the General Affairs Council is to approve the EU/US agreement formally. This is "a question of timetable", he said, adding that "the Parliament will be informed".