Brussels, 28/06/2007 (Agence Europe) - The preliminary agreement concluded between Europeans and Americans on Passenger Name Records (PNR), is expected to enable the US to obtain better access to air passenger data. According to the terms of the agreement EUROPE was able to obtain, EU negotiators agreed that only 18 kinds of data cold be sent to the competent US authorities instead of the 34 in the previous agreement. The length of time for retaining this data is now 7 years instead of 3. This agreement still needs to be approved by EU ambassadors at an extraordinary Coreper meeting on Friday. According to the agreement, data can only be exchanged for reasons that are strictly to do with the fight against terrorism, serious crime and organised crime. This data can only be exchanged in total confidentiality between the US border protection bureau and the US government law enforcement authorities and exchanged with the authorities of other third countries only after verification of their capacity to protect this data. The amount of data stands at 18 and data said to be sensitive on racial, ethnic, political, religious, philosophical or trade union grounds, as well as on the state of health or sexual orientation of a passengers, can be used in exceptional circumstances (if the person's life is in danger. In this case, strict procedures will be applied). The data retained for 7 years will then be declared non-operational. This “dormant” data can be retained for 8 more years and will be accessible to high ranking officials appointed by the US Secretary for security if there is a risk of danger. After this period, the data will be erased. Nevertheless, the US wants to discuss this question in the future. Data on ongoing affairs could be kept in an active data base until the affair is closed. After this period, the data will be destroyed. The United States, however, wants to discuss this issue in the future. The agreement provides for the change to the “Push” system should happen in January 2008 at the latest. Nonetheless, the decision on when, how and what data mush be included will be the US border protection bureau's. Data transfer will, in the normal way, be made 72 hours before the departure of the plane. If adopted, the agreement will come into effect on 1 July. EUROPE will return to the agreement once it has been finalised. (bc)