Initialed by officials in November, the agreement to transfer to U.S. officials information
from passenger name records "is not compatible with EU law," said
committee rapporteur Sophia in 't Veld (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for
Europe, Netherlands) during a Civil Liberties Committee debate on Monday.
"What kind of precedent do we create if we accept it?" According to a
European Parliament news brief, members representing Greens/European Free
Alliance (EFA) and European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL)
"shared her views," while members from European People's Party (EPP)
and European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) "supported the deal, even
though 'it is not entirely satisfactory.' " According to Parliament, the
Civil Liberties Committee on March 26 will vote on the U.S. passenger data
deal, followed by a plenary vote "foreseen for April." Meanwhile,
committee members also discussed proposals for EU to collect data on inbound
and outbound international passengers. Parliament rapporteur Timothy Kirkhope
(ECR, U.K.), said there is "a clear necessity and added value for a system
which also operates for intra-EU flights," according to the news brief.
The debate on EU's passenger data collection is expected to continue "in
the coming weeks."