BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) -- EU ministers agreed Monday to give Canadian authorities information on air passengers that could help identify terrorists.

Beginning in autumn 2005, airlines traveling from Europe to Canada will have to transfer the names of the people on board their flights to the Canada Border Services Agency.

The CBSA has promised that they will treat the data in line with EU data protection legislation. EU Justice and Home Affairs Commissioner Franco Frattini said the EU will continue to secure data protection standards at the same time as it steps up joint action against terrorism.

The EU signed a similar deal with the United States last year.