The European Commission has reached a deal with the United States on transferring air passenger data in a bid to curb terrorism. The European Union’s 27 national governments could potentially sign a deal in the next few days, according to Brussels’ chief negotiator Jonathan Faull and reported by Dow Jones news wire. 

“We have what I hope will be a definitive agreement for the seven years of its duration,” said Faull, adding that the deal balances the need for “security and the protection of individual data.”

Back in 2004 the European Union and U.S. authorities agreed that European airlines would turn over 34 pieces of information about each person flying from Europe to the U.S. within 15 minutes of departure.

However, last year the European Court of Justice ruled the scheme illegal, saying privacy rules deny the use of commercial data for combating crime.
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