SWIFT agreement bolsters Europe's freedom

With a clear majority the European Parliament has rejected the SWIFT Agreement which until now allowed the transfer of European bank data to the US. Despite annoying Washington the MEPs have done transatlantic relations a good turn in the long term, the left-liberal Süddeutsche Zeitung writes: "Washinton now knows where it stands: the terrorist threat can be fought together, but not at the expense of European civil rights. Experience shows that the US respects self-assured partners and knows how to react pragmatically to new political situations. What's more, the rejection also conceals an offer. MEPs from the far left to the right left no doubt that they also favour the tracking down of sources of terrorist funding. Negotiations on a new agreement can therefore begin immediately. So there has been no setback for the fight against terrorism. The Parliament simply ensured that freedom and civil rights are not sacrificed for the sake of security."

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