MEPs use Lisbon powers to safeguard citizen's privacy

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 8th Jul 2010

The European Parliament has approved a reworked EU-US agreement on access to Europeans' banking data for tracking of terrorist finance after rejecting an interim deal in February on grounds that it insufficiently safeguarded privacy.

Work to improve the data protection safeguards, such as shorter storage times and stronger supervision and redress rights, was led by Liberal (ALDE) group MEPs.

Lib Dem MEP Graham Watson commented;

"The anniversary on Wednesday of the 7/7 bombings focussed everyone's minds on the need to work together to tackle terrorism. However, in seeking to win this fight, we must not sacrifice our commitment to democracy and civil liberties; otherwise we will lose the war before the battle is even over.

"Using new Lisbon Treaty powers, MEPs were able to stop EU governments transferring private bank data to the US in bulk.

"Liberals successfully negotiated a package that balances security and EU privacy standards. We can now confidently get on with tackling those individuals who threaten our liberties."