Brussels, 07/11/2005 (Agence Europe) - The American secret services (United States Secret Service- USSS) and the European Police Office (Europol) signed a cooperation agreement in The Hague on Monday, with a view to promoting the exchange of information between them in order to fight financial crime. "Our two agencies have been working together for several years to fight financial crime. I am convinced that this agreement will improve and accelerate our efforts to fight transnational crime", said Barbara Riggs, deputy director of the USSS. The director of Europol, Max-Peter Ratzel, welcomed this "the expression of close collaboration between the United States and the EU in the fight against international organised crime and terrorism". Amongst other things, the agreement includes the exchange of personal data and is based on the global cooperation agreement signed by Europol and the American justice minister in December 2002. In order to improve the exchange of information, the USSS recently placed a liaison officer in Europol's headquarters, whilst Europol has two offices in Washington. After the fruitful cooperation which has already taken place between the USSS and Europol in the fight against counterfeiting of the dollar and the euro, the signature of this partnership should now allow the two agencies to fight financial crimes and cyber-crime more effectively.