Liberals Demand Court Ruling and Agreement on Air Passenger Data Transfers

12.00.00am GMT Tue 13th Jan 2004

European Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament are demanding a European Court of Justice ruling on the legality of an accord with the US on sharing personal data on airline passengers, and the negotiation of a formal agreement between the EU and the US in this area, not an informal understanding.

"We cannot surrender our civil liberties in the fight against terrorism", said European Liberal Democrat justice spokeswoman and London MEP Baroness Sarah Ludford.

"Of course we must step up airline safety measures, but we must do so in a way which is consistent with our data protection laws, not take short cuts for political expediency."

Following a debate with EU Transport Commissioner Loyola de Palacio, Baroness Ludford added:

"Over the Christmas period, a number of flights were cancelled based on unspecified information, and the United States is trying to have sky marshals installed on flights. Member States are reacting in different ways, and this lack of a common approach is confusing for both passengers and airlines."

"There is currently no adequate protection of confidentiality of European air passenger data transferred to the United States, and the only way out of the current illegal state of affairs is an international agreement negotiated between the EU and the US with the full involvement of the European Parliament and Congress and respecting privacy rights".

"The European Commission should request a ruling by the European Court of Justice on the legality of the current informal accord and if it does not, the European Parliament should do so."