29/03/2007 (Agence Europe) - The second round of negotiations between the EU and the United States with a view to reaching an agreement on the transfer of air passenger data is likely to prove to be very sensitive, a top official at the German interior ministry said in the EP at the start of the week. “Both sides have put forward starting positions which should differ hugely,” said Hans-Jürgen Föster, who is responsible for negotiations on the new PNR agreement on behalf of the German presidency of the EU. “The US doubt the need for a new PNR agreement. … The United States feel that it is up to them alone to decide on things like data retention,” he added. “The US government has indicated a willingness to discuss and draft a list of principles to see whether additional restrictions to PNR transfer are desirable,” Mr Föster indicated, however. The US negotiators will submit a revised version of their position to the EU before the start of the second phase of negotiation, the date for which will be decided next week, after the EU-US ministerial troika has discussed the matter. (lc)
European Parliament Plenary Session