A deal has been struck between the Europe Union and the US on the exchange of passenger details for flights across the Atlantic.
Following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the US pressed for the sharing of information. An agreement on the transfer of 34 separate items was made at the time, but worries were expressed in Europe over the length of time such records could be kept.
The BBC website reports that although no official details have been published, it is believed that records may be kept by US security personnel for up to 15 years.
After the earlier agreement came to an end last year, to be replaced by an interim one, this new agreement was reached in talks between Franco Frattini, European Union Justice and Security Commissioner, Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, German Interior, and Michael Chertoff, US Homeland Security Secretary.
Just last week a group of leading travel organisations in the US called for a $10 entry tax, and a widening of the visa waiver program, to help fund improved security after research showed visitor numbers to America had dropped by 17 per cent since 2000.
