VZCZCXYZ0021
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUP #0032 0101151
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 101151Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0612
INFO RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUDAPEST 000032 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/NCE - LABONTE, EUR/ERA - WALKER, AND EB 
- WIN DAYTON 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/07/2012 
TAGS: ECON PREL HU
SUBJECT: HUNGARIAN PARLIAMENT RATIFIES US-EU PASSENGER 
DATA-SHARING AGREEMENT 
 
REF: LABONTE-GAUDIOSI E-MAILS AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: POL/C ERIC V. GAUDIOSI; REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) 
 
¶1.  (U) On December 22, the Hungarian Parliament formally 
ratified a government act operationalizing the US-EU 
Agreement on Passenger Data Sharing, thus formalizing its 
prevous agreement to implement the accord in practice. 
 
¶2.  (C) The text of the government act was modified slightly 
from its original draft in order to address concerns raised 
by Hungarian President Solyom, who had questioned whether the 
act complied with provisions of the Hungarian constitution. 
(Note: Solyom, a former President of the Constitutional 
Court, is widely considered to be legalistic and is known to 
take a particular interest in issues regarding individual 
rights.  MFA officials regarded Solyom's original objections 
to be unfortunate but not atypical timing on his part.  They 
have hastened to reaffirm their commitment to addressing his 
concerns in order to move forward with formal ratification as 
quickly as possible.  End note.) 
 
¶3.  (U) The revision to the text consists of the addition of 
the following paragraph, designed to serve as a consent form 
for travelers before departure for the U.S.: 
 
"Having read and understood the above I consent to my data 
being processed and also consent to such data, appearing in 
my passport and requested by the abovementioned authority, 
being forwarded to Malev Hungarian Airlines before the 
departure of my flight, and Malev Hungarian Airlines provides 
electronic access to CBP to the personal and sensitive data 
contained in automated reservation and departure control 
systems." 
 
¶4.  (C) We understand from MFA sources that this text was 
added specifically to address the concerns raised by the 
President re the necessity of the passengers' informed 
consent.  There has been no indication of further opposition 
from his office to the revised act. 
 
¶5.  (U) Post will remain in close contact with GoH sources as 
they finalize plans for the implementation of the new regime. 
REEKER