Brussels, 25/02/2010 (Agence Europe) - The European Union wants to resume negotiations with Washington as soon as possible to find a long-term agreement on the exchange of bank transfer information as part of combating terrorism, the Spanish Presidency of the EU Council said on Thursday 25 February. “We decided unanimously that we want an agreement with the United States as part of the fight against terrorism,” said Spanish Home Affairs Minister Alfredo Perez Rubelcaba, following a meeting with his counterparts from across the European Union in Brussels. “The Swift agreement is useful in tackling terrorism so it is clear that we cannot stay too long without such an agreement,” the minister said just before the Council meeting. He ruled out all bilateral negotiations between the United States and member states. “Rather than bilateral accords, we want an agreement that covers all European countries,” he said, stating that he had received commitments from Belgium and the Netherlands of their desire for a European agreement. He also said that the agreement being sought “will address the concerns of the European Parliament”. On 11 February, MEPs threw out the provisional Swift agreement, believing that it failed to respect the fundamental rights of European citizens (see EUROPE 10076 and 10077). “We are awaiting confirmation that the Americans want to negotiate” and they would appear to be in a “good mood”, said European Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmström. It will then be for the European Commission to propose a new negotiating mandate, which will, thereafter, have to be adopted by the Council. According to information received, the Commission might very well propose a new negotiating mandate in March or April (see EUROPE 10085). Malmström acknowledged that the provisional agreement had not been perfect. “We will do better,” she promised. (B.C./transl.rt)