EU pushes for anti-terror measure
July 24, 2008 17:32 EDT

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) -- European Union ministers have agreed in principle to set up a U.S.-style passenger data recording system for commercial flights in the 27-nation bloc.

According to one EU official, the aim is to have the system set up by the end of 2009.

The U.S. system gives the data that the airlines collect about their passengers, such as name, age, sex, address and credit card details, to U.S. authorities before they enter America. That allows them to do a security check on each passenger before the flights land.

EU governments must still work out whether data will only be collected on foreigners aboard flights to the EU or will also include information on EU citizens and passengers on inter-European flights.

Britain and the Netherlands are currently testing systems on their own.



GRAPHICSBANK 977219

2000x1500

Passengers go through TSA security checkpoint at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Washington, photo