Brussels, 08/10/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Police office, Europol, is to begin negotiations with Malta, Lithuania and Latvia to conclude full co-operation agreements allowing, in particular, the exchange of data of a personal nature. The Justice and Home Affairs Council has just given the green light. Europol has already signed similar agreements with the seven other acceding countries: Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia (EUROPE of 26 April). Europol is linked by agreements allowing the exchange of data on persons with other countries and organisations, including the United States, Bulgaria, Iceland, Norway, and Interpol. Europol has also signed co-operation agreements with the World Customs Organisation, the Central European Bank, and the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, but these agreements only relate to technical exchanges or strategic reports, and do not provide for the exchange of personal data.