11 February 2010 - The EU Parliament has today rejected (1) the interim EU agreement to supply SWIFT bank transfer data to the US authorities. Green Euro-MP Caroline Lucas welcomed the decision of MEPs to vote against the proposed agreement, and said it showed Parliament was willing to exercise its new co-legislator powers on important domestic affairs and security matters.

The South East MEP commented:

"The Parliament has shown real strength today in rejecting an undemocratic piece of legislation that threatens the fundamental rights of EU citizens. The EU-US SWIFT agreement, which would allow the US authorities access to citizens’ financial transaction data, has justifiably raised serious concerns over its consequences for privacy and data protection rights.

“The Council presidency and the Commission must now listen to MEPs and cancel the interim agreement. We also need a debate within the European Parliament on the minimum legal protection that European citizens can expect on matters involving international security cooperation.

“We must take care not to devalue the very rights that we are trying to protect in the name of anti-terrorism legislation. The Greens want to work towards a security policy that counters the threat of criminal activity, whilst also respecting fundamental rights."

ENDS

Notes to editors

(1) A move to postpone the vote was rejected by 305 votes to 290. The vote to reject the agreement was subsequently passed with 378 in favour, 196 against.

Background

Council approved the interim agreement on 30 November, one day before the Lisbon Treaty came into force and granted the EU Parliament co-legislative powers on the issue. The interim agreement came into force on 1 February 2010, before any vote by the EU Parliament plenary.