Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats
The European Socialists and Democrats have voiced strong concern after recent media revelations about the extensive data which is allegedly being transferred to Washington for passengers not travelling or landing on US soil.
S&D MEP Juan Fernando López Aguilar, chairman of the European Parliament committee on civil liberties, justice and home affairs, today wrote a heated letter to European Commissioner Cecilia Malmström to urge her to appear before MEPs on 11 October.
López Aguilar also reminded her in his letter that the Parliament gave the green light to the controversial Passenger Name Records Agreement with the US (the EU-US PNR) on basis that the transfer of data would be strictly limited to inbound and outbound flights to the US.
S&D vice-president Sylvie Guillaume MEP said:
"Combating terrorism remains one of our major concerns, but the US authorities need to understand that we expect them to respect the rules.
"The transfer of data on passengers simply flying over US soil is not included and allowed by the EU-US PNR agreement voted by the European Parliament.
"This means that under the current EU legislation air companies may not be allowed to transfer this passenger data to the US without a new and specific deal on this, which would need the agreement of the European Parliament."
S&D spokesperson on civil liberties, justice and home affairs, Claude Moraes MEP, said:
"The media reports show that the US may be requesting data which falls outside the scope of the EU-US PNR agreement. We signed up to the agreement on strict conditions and we need clear answers if EU citizens' data is being collected contrary to spirit of the agreement.
"If our citizens' data is being collected for flights simply going through US airspace, then this could be against EU data protection laws. We are taking this matter very seriously and that is why the S&Ds have requested that Commissioner Malmström comes to the civil liberties committee to give MEPs a full picture of the situation regarding US collection of EU citizens' PNR data."
Paolo Alberti
+ 32 2 283 20 40
+ 33 3 88 16 40 82
+ 32 476 95 51 44
Contacts
LÓPEZ AGUILAR Juan Fernando
+ 33 3 88 17 53 36
+ 32 2 284 53 36
juanfernando.lopezaguilar@europarl.europa.eu
+ 33 3 88 17 53 36
+ 32 2 284 53 36
juanfernando.lopezaguilar@europarl.europa.eu
GUILLAUME Sylvie
+ 33 3 88 17 54 33
+ 33 4 78 98 74 23
+ 32 2 284 54 33
contact@sylvieguillaume.eu
sylvie.guillaume@europarl.europa.eu
+ 33 3 88 17 54 33
+ 33 4 78 98 74 23
+ 32 2 284 54 33
contact@sylvieguillaume.eu
sylvie.guillaume@europarl.europa.eu
Associated media
S&D vice-president Sylvie Guillaume MEP said: 'Combating terrorism remains one of our major concerns, but the US authorities need to understand that we expect them to respect the rules'
S&D spokesperson on civil liberties, justice and home affairs, Claude Moraes MEP, said: 'The media reports show that the US may be requesting data which falls outside the scope of the EU-US PNR agreement. We signed up to the agreement on strict conditions and we need clear answers if EU citizens' data is being collected contrary to spirit of the agreement'
S&D MEP Juan Fernando López Aguilar, chairman of the European Parliament committee on civil liberties, justice and home affairs, today wrote a heated letter to European Commissioner Cecilia Malmström to urge her to appear before MEPs on 11 October.
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