European Union ambassadors have approved a last-minute deal this morning with the United States on the transfer of personal data on transatlantic air passengers to US authorities.
Under the agreement, which replaces a pact invalidated by the EU's highest court on a legal technicality, US law enforcement agencies will be given easier access to travellers' personal records such as addresses and credit card details.
American and European officials negotiated through the night to fill a legal vacuum that airlines had warned could expose them to breach of privacy suits or cause travel chaos.
The US government says it needs the data to combat terrorism.