Bulgaria to Give Flight Passengers' Data to US

Bulgaria will provide United States security agencies with data of those traveling to the country, the Parliament in Sofia has decided.

The US Homeland Security Department is to provide the software that will help Bulgarian authorities exchange the relevant information.

Bulgaria's ruling coalition says the move is aimed at helping the fight against terrorism.

The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), Bulgaria's biggest opposition force, however warns that US laws do not cater for the safety of Europeans' data and suggests Sofia should provide information about "other foreign citizens" passing via the country instead.

"Let us not put Bulgarian citizens into the situation of their personal data being used by the United States of America," the Bulgarian National Radio quotes MP Chavdar Georgiev as saying.

Junior coalition partner Reformist Bloc (RB), on the other hand, points out that the step will result in Bulgaria's access to the US database.

Sofia already made its own counter-terrorism steps last week by proposing a bill that creates a unit within the State Agency for National Security (DANS) that will process flight data.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!