Brussels, 09/07/2009 (Agence Europe) - Two outgoing MEPs reproach the European Commission for not having informed the Parliament of its intention to negotiate an agreement with the United States so that it may continue to have access to bank data processed by the Swift system (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications) as part of the fight against terrorism. French Socialist Pervenche Berès, who was recently re-elected, and outgoing Belgian Liberal Democrat Gérard Deprez wrote to European Justice Commissioner Jacques Barrot on 7 July to express their astonishment. In their letter, the two MEPs express surprise at the terms whereby the Commission is planning to begin negotiating a new agreement with the United States in a field in which the European Parliament has already expressed reserve for some time. At the end of June, the European Commission requested a mandate of the EU Council of Ministers to open talks with Washington so that Swift data may still be used despite the relocation, as of the end of September, of a calculation centre from the United States to Switzerland (EUROPE 9929). MEPs regret that no public debate has been held on the matter. They therefore request that the Commission keep the Parliament rapidly informed of its intentions, of American requests and of the content of the negotiation brief whereby the European Executive plans to negotiate. Also, in so far as the EU hopes to conclude such an agreement, MEPs consider that access to data outside US territory should be based on the principles set out in European body of law. They go on to conclude by saying that, for their part, they consider it would be preferable, in any case, to wait for entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty. (B.C./transl.jl)