It's time to end EU air-traveller data spat: Merkel

Berlin

THE European Parliament should reconsider its misgivings on legislation to improve data-sharing on air travellers entering and leaving the continent after last week's terror attacks in France, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said. Speaking in Hamburg on Saturday, Mrs Merkel urged European Union (EU) lawmakers to re-examine their stance on data privacy that has held up legislation on exchanging air-ticket data since 2011. British Prime Minister David Cameron said last month foot-dragging over sharing information put lives at risk.

Though accords cover data-sharing on travellers to the United States and Canada, compulsory information-sharing is lacking on travellers to and from Europe, Mrs Merkel told reporters after policy talks with her Christian Democrats (CDU) in the port city. "The European Parliament must address the passenger data question," she said.