Brussels, 15/04/2010 (Agence Europe) - The US wants to sign a new “Swift” agreement (involving the transfer of banking data in the fight against terrorism) with the EU soon. During a meeting with journalists on Thursday 15 April, Adam Szubin, the director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), declared: “We are hopeful that the EU will conclude a mandate that is realistic and allows for a speedy negotiation and conclusion of an agreement that will restore this very important counterterrorism program for the benefits of the investigators in the US, in the EU and around the world”. Szubin visited Brussels to meet different representatives from the European institutions. He also declared: “We expect that the negotiations will be substantive and serious, and we are prepared for that. But we share interests in resolving any outstanding issues quickly for the safety of our citizens in the EU and in the US”. The Council of the EU is currently debating the draft negotiating mandate in view of beginning negotiations. The European Commission, which will be in charge of negotiating on behalf of the Union, and the US, both hope to be able to conclude an agreement before next summer. Next week in Strasbourg, the European Parliament is expected to adopt a resolution on the Swift agreement, which will affirm the determination of MEPs to have an agreement that sufficiently protects the fundamental rights of European citizens. During a recent debate, MEPs indicated that they wanted to avoid the transfer of non-individualised data and, if necessary, process it in the EU (EUROPE 10113). Both the US and EU are expecting the negotiations to be difficult. (B.C./transl.fl)