27/09/2019 (Agence Europe) – The first formal negotiating meeting on an EU-US agreement on cross-border access to electronic evidence held by a service provider in criminal proceedings (see EUROPE 12187/2), held on Wednesday 25 September, was “successful”, according to a European Commission statement issued on Thursday 26 September. In addition, participants agreed on regular rounds of negotiations with a view to concluding an agreement “as soon as possible”. In a joint statement, the European Commissioner for Justice, Věra Jourová, and her American counterpart, William Barr, reaffirm their willingness to cooperate, as well as the importance of this agreement (see EUROPE 12278/20). Both sides will review progress in the negotiations at the next meeting of EU and US Justice Ministers in December. (MF)