Speaking to the European Policy Centre during a visit to Brussels on 23 May 2005, Chertoff said the US wants full passenger information up to one hour before planes depart. In his view such a system would be welcomed by passengers who want to avoid their flight being diverted or turned back, something which has occurred twice in the past two weeks.
Under the passenger name record (PNR) agreement between the EU and the US reached in June 2004 (currently being challenged by the European Parliament on privacy grounds), information on air passengers is passed to US authorities 15 minutes after take-off (see Euractiv 1 June 2004).
Chertoff also talked about his hopes that the EU and US could develop what he called "technologically-based security envelopes" through which "trusted travellers" could move easily. He emphasised the need to use new technologies so that a common worldwide system of biometric screening could be developed for admission to the "envelope".
During his visit to Brussels, Mr Chertoff will discuss these issues with EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and Justice Commissioner Frattini.
