New And Improved SWIFT Deal
Tuesday 6 July 2010
Strasbourg -- Timothy delivered this speech to the House in Strasbourg today, in the wake of the LIBE Committee's adoption of the SWIFT text last night. It means that six months of often tortuous negotiations and political wrangling are almost at an end - the deal will be put for a vote before the full Parliament on Thursday.
Timothy said:
May I first thank Alexander Alvaro and his predecessor Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, as well as the U.S. authorities and the American Ambassador, Mr Kennard, for their hard work, perseverance and determination to produce another agreement and maintain a positive relationship between the EU and the U.S.
We should congratulate the U.S. in their sustained belief that progress was possible, and for once again continuing down the route of an EU-US international agreement. The deal is good compared with last time, including, as it does, judicial review, EU oversight, review procedures and blocking mechanisms, and it lays down denominations for use in future cross-Atlantic arrangements presents us with the future possibility of our own EU TFTP system. This agreement is undoubtedly more equal, more open, and more democratic.
I believe that this time we are all here with a lot more goodwill and cohesion following 6 months of mostly successful but testing negotiations.
The Parliament has had to push hard to be heard and for its voice to be respected, but what we have finally been presented with, is an agreement which not only is new, but improved, and one which we can live with, one with which we should be happy about and especially vital lessons have been learnt within the Parliament and within the EU institutions.
For those Members which may have remaining concerns
Yes; the agreement is not perfect, but may I remind this house, we do not live in a perfect world; that is exactly why this agreement is needed. It is why we do not just have a duty to protect the data and rights of our citizens, which we have achieved, but also to protect their security and their safety.
Last night in Committee, this agreement was overwhelmingly adopted. This was a victory for common sense. I hope that this same result can be echoed within this house. Now is the time to put aside our individual ideals and be practical for the sake of the people we represent. We must acknowledge that what we have in front of us is a good agreement, which has addressed nearly all of our concerns.
Now is the time for the reputation of the EU as a serious international body to be renewed; now is the time for us to behave reasonably and responsibly; now is the time for this house to vote in favour of this text. My Group will do so.
