EU legal authorities question travelers’ information sharing agreement with U.S.

In May 2004 the EU decided to share air passenger data with U.S. antiterrorism authorities, but an adviser to the EU’s highest court yesterday said the decision should be annulled. Since the 2004 decision, airlines flying from EU countries to the United States have provided traveler information, including e-mail and credit card details, to U.S. Border and Customs officials as part of a stricter U.S. antiterror campaign. Philippe L”ger, an advocate-general to the European Court of Justice, said the decisions by the European Commission and member states to approve the deal were made on an inadequate legal basis. DHS said that the current rules will remain in effect while the two sides address L”ger’s concerns.

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