Brussels, 23/07/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Monday, EU Foreign Ministers finally gave their approval to the new agreement with Washington on the transfer of personal data of air passengers travelling to the United States - “Passenger Name Record” (PNR) - which forms part of the fight against terrorism. Ambassadors endorsed the text on 19 July (see EUROPE 9473). The formal signature of the agreement had to take place before 31 July, the date of expiry of the interim agreement, signed in October 2006, which itself replaced an earlier text annulled by the European Court of Justice. Some national parliaments, like those of Denmark and Ireland, still have to vote on the text, even after it comes into effect. Within the Council there was no objection in principle to the approval of the draft agreement. Several member states, however, had questions or expressed concern about the lack of clarity over how long the data will be kept, their transfer to third countries or widening the circle of US bodies to which the PNR data will be made available. This agreement will bring an end to long and difficult negotiations for the Europeans, with the United States threatening at any time to begin bilateral negotiations with member states, something that would have left European citizens in a markedly worse situation. In autumn, the Commission will bring forward proposals on mechanisms to monitor the implementation of the agreement. (bc)