EU states give initial backing to US air data deal

BRUSSELS, June 29 (Reuters) EU capitals gave initial backing today to a deal to supply US authorities with data on transatlantic air passengers for use in terror probes pending final approval in some national parliaments, diplomats said.

''In practice it's a done deal. It should be formalised in July,'' said one envoy of the agreement, which is set to replace an interim deal reached in the aftermath of the September. 11 attacks and which is due to expire next month.

Airlines had feared they would be left in a legal limbo and exposed to privacy complaints if no replacement deal was reached in time.

A second diplomat said several countries said they wanted to refer the accord to their national parliaments but that a formal accord was still expected by the end of next month.

The issue is sensitive in Europe where US tactics in the fight against terrorism have raised concerns about abuses of privacy and wider human rights.

EU Justice and Security Commissioner Franco Frattini, German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble and US Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff reached agreement on Wednesday on the new arrangements for transferring data.

While details of the provisions have yet to be published, EU data protection watchdog Peter Hustinx has raised concerns about some outlines of a deal that have been made public, including the length of time that US agencies can hold the data.

REUTERS SKB PM1715