Left-wing groups delay EU agreement on sharing air passengers' details

Opposition from left-wing groups has delayed a final vote on a law that would give security forces across the EU access to the data of airline passengers, a proposal that has been stalled for years over privacy concerns. Sharing details of the identities of air passengers and their flight records has been at the centre of fierce debate among lawmakers at the European Parliament with some arguing it is key to fighting terrorism and others concerned that people's privacy could be infringed. A number of left-wing groups including the Socialists, Liberals and Greens, have now blocked formal discussion of the proposed legislation next week, effectively delaying a final vote, the group of Conservative lawmakers said Thursday. The European Parliament and EU member states clinched an agreement on the proposal last December. <br/>