The United States has reassured the European Union that it will continue to apply safeguards on the use of air passenger data until the two sides conclude a new agreement, an EU spokesman said on Wednesday.

US Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff gave the assurance to EU Justice and Security Commissioner Franco Frattini in a phone call on Tuesday as Washington and Brussels seek a deal to replace a counter-terrorism agreement invalidated on a legal technicality by the European Court of Justice.

"The United States is willing for the time being to indeed apply the safeguards for the passenger name records data laid down in the... lapsed 2004 agreement. That obviously was warmly welcomed by Vice President Frattini," spokesman Friso Roscam Abbing told a news briefing.