Brussels has secret talks with US to sign away your rights

[Fergalino]

Did the ECJ not force the Commission to re-negotiate an agreement covering airline passengers to the US about a year ago?
So at least we have someone looking after our interests.

If you look at the two articles, the NYT makes it clear that it is a two-way agreement.

The Murdoch owned anti-EU Sunday Times implies that it is a one way deal whereby the US gets everything.
But then, they would say that wouldn't they?

Yes, in the PNR case. Parliament applied to the ECJ to annul the Passenger name agreement with the US. The ECJ agreed with Parliament and annuled the agreement.

Contrary to what certain posters say above, this issue has been going on for years (since post 9/11). You will find all the details of what happened in PNR here.
http://www.euractiv.com/en/security/ecj ... cle-155680


As regards data transfers to the US, no reasonable person would argue that a certain amount of transfer of info is necessary to counter terrorism and organised crime. The question is: can we reassure ourselves that any data transferred is adequately protected.

We have two options here. If each Member State negotiates on its on with the US, you can be damn sure the US would extract greater concessions from each one in turn.What do you think Ireland would do on its own? Think of Shannon. European law, in contrast, strongly protects your personal data under the Data Protection Directive and through the work of the Europea Data Protection Supervisor. If the EU negotiates as a bloc, our negotiating position is strongly enhanced. Further, any agreement with the US will have to go through the Council. As the agreement would either be a second or third pillar issue, under Nice, the EP will not have a say on it (under Lisbon it would have a say in such agreements, but ...in our wisdom we rejected Lisbon). Lisbon would also have made Article 8 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights applicable (which makes data protection a fundamental right). See http://www.europarl.europa.eu/charter/pdf/text_en.pdf But, in its wisdom, Ireland is of the view that we can do without Lisbon.

[Fergalino]

New York Times , June 28
WASHINGTON — The United States and the European Union are nearing completion of an agreement allowing law enforcement and security agencies to obtain private information — like credit card transactions, travel histories and Internet browsing habits — about people on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.

Negotiators, who have been meeting since February 2007, have largely agreed on draft language for 12 major issues central to a “binding international agreement,” the report said.

The Bush administration and the European Commission have not publicized their talks, but they referred to their progress in a little-noticed paragraph deep in a joint statement after a summit meeting between President Bush and European leaders in Slovenia this month.

Issued June 10, the statement declared that “the fight against transnational crime and terrorism requires the ability to share personal data for law enforcement,” and called for the creation of a “binding international agreement” to aid such transfers while also ensuring that citizens’ privacy is “fully” protected.
Sunday Times June 29

Shami Chakrabarti, director of Liberty, said: “We can barely trust our own authorities with sensitive personal information. What redress will we have on the other side of the Atlantic if our details are lost or abused?”

The Foreign Office would make no comment yesterday and an EU spokesman declined to discuss the matter.

Stewart Baker, assistant secretary for policy at the US department of homeland security, said that the deal would make it easier for the US to obtain private information on individuals from banks, credit card firms and other companies in Britain and the EU.
He said many firms faced sanctions from the EU if they were deemed to have passed information to the US in breach of data protection laws. The deal would in effect give them greater protection from punishment in the future. It would apply to airline passengers and anyone whom the US government had legitimate authority to obtain information about, he added.

Barry Steinhardt, a lawyer at the American Civil Liberties Union, said: “Clearly it’s a broad exchange of data. It’s another example of the US drawing in the rest of the world to sacrifice its principles.

“The US is essentially asking the rest of the world to conform to our very limited notion of what’s private.

And the Brussels bureaucrats are selling us out ?

cYp

Are you excepting the fact that Europ knows of our credit card transactions, travel histories and Internet browsing habits — of people in Europe? Then what is your prob? at least most in the Foreign Office in the US are of Irish estraction, and speak English, not like Europe???? Whats up then,all are our Family, maybe 3 generation not like Europe, and as we say there should be no secrets in the Family. But keep away from the blue lads on the Internat, and then you should have no Prob!

"are you excepting" I normally refrain from making references to typos - people in glass houses comes to mined - but, sorry, your mastery of basic English is just unacceptable.

As for your view that Europeans do not speak English, well, have a long look in the mirror.

[forest]

this is to due with US security
the ep has been very critical of these issues and also the ridiculous liquid restrictions
However if you wish to travel yankland you have to live with these restrictions
Trade is too important with the US for us to oppose such rules