EU bodies do battle over deal with US on details about air travellers

EU INSTITUTIONS are set for a major legal challenge against each other about an agreement to hand over details of air passengers to the US government - a measure introduced as a key part of the international fight against terrorism.

In a rare power struggle between EU bodies, the European Parliament has begun legal proceedings against the European Commission and European Council to annul the agreement - in the same week that the US was placed on a heightened level of terror alert.

Former MEP Pat Cox decided to refer the issue to the European Court of Justice in one of his last acts as president of the European Parliament. The papers were formally lodged with the Luxembourg-based court in the last few days. MEPs claim legislation that requires airlines flying to the US to transfer passenger data to the US Department of Homeland Security as well as US customs and immigration services is in breach of EU data protection law.