Transatlantic Convergence or Divergence? Threat Assessment, Surveillance Technologies and Fundamental Rights

Did 11 September 2001 (9/11) make the European Union (EU) and the US closer or

farther apart? And what can be learnt with regard to the relations between security

and democracy post 9/11? An analysis of some instances of transatlantic cooperation

or tensions is offered below with the aim of clarifying these questions. Rather than

attempting a full fledged comparison of EU and US policies, the analysis takes

the EU context as ‘pivot’ and focuses on the influence of – and implications for –

transatlantic relations. The cases considered are threat assessment, the introduction of

biometric identification, the EU/US Agreement on Passenger Name Records (PNR)

and extraordinary renditions. From a broader conceptual perspective, these cases are

useful illustrations of the relations between security policies and democratic debate,

oversight and rights.