The United States and the European Union failed to reach a new deal on sharing air passenger data by Saturday's deadline, though officials disagreed about the impact on trans-Atlantic air travel, reported The Associated Press. U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said the failure to agree would not disrupt trans-Atlantic air travel. Chertoff said in a telephone interview with the AP Saturday that he was sending EU representatives «an initial proposed agreement, which I think embodies what their fundamental requirements for data protection are so we can do what we need to protect our borders. If they're prepared to accept and sign, great. If we have to have additional talks, fine.» European Commission spokesman Jonathan Todd said there would be a «legal vacuum» as of midnight. «We have to discuss on Commission level what to do next,» Todd said. He said the EU executive would debate the issue Thursday. Chertoff said he had been assured that European airlines would continue to transmit passenger data and said he did not think European governments would penalize them for doing so. «The talks did not break down,» Chertoff said. «Their delegation had to go home and that's fine.»
