following
expiration this weekend of the previous pact. "The Commission urges the U.S. to continue to apply the safeguards for passenger name record data that were laid down in the now-lapsed 2004 agreement until such time as a new agreement is reached so as to minimize the risk of legal uncertainty and disruption to E.U.-U.S. flights," according to an E.C. statement. "The draft agreement sent on 30 Sep by [U.S. Department of Homeland Security] Secretary Michael Chertoff ... may be discussed during the 6 Oct meeting of the Council of Justice and Home Affairs Ministers in Luxembourg in the hope of having an agreement the same day." The Association of European Airlines voiced cautious optimism that a deal would be reached. "Our airlines are subjected to conflicting regulatory requirements from opposite sides of the Atlantic--an untenable situation for airlines and passengers alike," said AEA Secretary General Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus. "But both sides have confirmed that day-to-day operations under the current arrangements will not be called into question as talks continue."