Europe is looking to gain access to passenger data on American travelers much like the US already does with foreign nationals coming in to the country.

The European Commission is set to announce the proposal this week and is said to be part of the EU's efforts against terrorism. As well as American passengers, it also covera data on any airline passenger flying into the region.

Data will be kept on passengers for a period of 13 years, according to a copy of the agreement obtained by The Washington Post. Officials will be allowed to keep the data longer if part of a criminal investigation or intelligence operation.

Passenger's names and 18 other fields will be sent depending on the requests of each state. However, the proposal prohibits personal data that reveals "race, ethnicity, political opinions, religion, trade union membership or health or sex-life information," according to the Post.

Heading up the effort to have the proposal enacted its European Commissioner for freedom, security, and justice Franco Frattini. While he believes the system is absolutely necessary to fight terrorism, privacy advocates say it is beginning an "arms race" of data that may in the end not be necessary to collect.

Privacy advocates won't find the US Government on their side, as it is supporting the body's proposal. It feels it is only fair that the EU have access to the same type of data that the US requests from the EU.