SWIFT

Commenting on today's EU Parliament resolution on the new negotiation mandate on providing SWIFT bank data to the US authorities, Green MEP Jan Philipp Albrecht said:

"Once again, the European Parliament has emphasised the relevance of a high level of data protection for transatlantic security cooperation. Bank data can only be transferred to the U.S. if there is independent judicial review and control on a case-by-case basis, as well as a narrow definition of the use of such data, short retention periods and effective legal redress. The Commission must now be tough in the negotiations and ensure that the U.S. government accommodates Parliament's crucial points.

However, we Greens abstained on the whole resolution, because the illegal transfer of bulk data has not clearly been excluded. The Parliament's position is clear. The ball is now in the Commission's court. If the Commission does not exclude bulk data transfers in the negotiations with the U.S., the European Parliament must and will reject such an agreement again."

You can reach Jan Philipp Albrecht on his German mobile phone: +49-175-1656698.