US and EU Sign Airline Passenger Security Deal
A deal has been forged between negotiators in both Europe and the US which is designed to improve security in the airline sector. Little in the way of detailed information relating to this has been released, but it is known that the deal’s premise is that information in respect of passengers travelling across the Atlantic will be mutually shared. According to sources within the EU, this information will be archived for 15 years by security agencies within the US.
In line with agreements made in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001, European airlines are currently obliged to provide 34 pieces of data in connection with US-inbound passengers. The new deal was struck during discussions held between three key figures; Michael Chertoff (the US Homeland Security Secretary), Wolfgang Schaeuble (the German Interior Minister) and Franco Frattini (the European Union Justice and Security Commissioner).
Historically, EU/US attempts to enforce security requirements, while maintaining the privacy of passengers, have failed. An intended deal last year lapsed after both parties could not agree on renewal terms; reaching only an interim accord.
Prior to this new announcement, which will receive coverage in Security International as more facts are released, a separate agreement had been approved by EU regulators. This provides counter-terrorist investigators in the US with insight into the international money transfers handled by the Swift network, which is based in Belgium. According to Washington, this level of accessibility is mandatory, in order for it to identify and prevent terrorist funding. The EU regulators had previously highlighted how this proposal, in its original form, contravened the union’s laws relating to privacy.
Source - Security International Newsdesk
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