Criticism Grows over Banking Data Deal

Article says that the EU is about to enter talks July 2009 with the US on giving it access to banking data in its fight against terrorism. German politicians from across the political spectrum are up in arms, and members of the European Parliament say they will try to scupper any deal that violates data privacy.

Subsequently, in November 2009, the new German justice minister said Berlin is not comfortable with an EU measure that would grant US authorities access to European banking data. It seemed likely that the Germans may scupper the deal, which is supposed to be pushed through at an EU meeting in Brussels at the end of November 2009.

• Primary Source

European Parliament: Press Release, 23.7.09: SWIFT: EU-US bank data-sharing deal will be an 'interim' one, says Jacques Barrot http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/019-58612-201-07-30-902-20090720IPR58611-20-07-2009-2009-false/default_en.htm

EurActiv, 28.07.09: Criticism Grows over Banking Data Deal http://www.euractiv.com/en/justice/eu-us-data-sharing-causes-uproar-germany/article-184443

ESO: Background information: Opinion of the European Data Protection Supervisor on the Final Report by the EU-US High Level Contact Group on information sharing and privacy and personal data protection http://www.europeansources.info/record/opinion-of-the-european-data-protection-supervisor-on-the-final-report-by-the-eu-us-high-level-contact-group-on-information-sharing-and-privacy-and-personal-data-protection/

Deutsche Welle, 30.7.09: EU to insist on equal access in US SWIFT data-sharing deal http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4530077,00.html

Deutsche Welle, 27.7.09: EU top diplomats OK bank data talks, reassure on Iceland http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4520376,00.html

Deutsche Welle, 25.7.09: German politicians protest plan to share banking data with US authorities http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4517889,00.html

EUObserver, 29.7.09: EU bank data move ignored legal advice http://euobserver.com/22/28506

Statewatch: EU-USA "SWIFT" agreement - documentation http://www.statewatch.org/news/2008/jun/06eu-usa-swift-agreement.htm

Statewatch: Statewatch Analysis: EU agrees US demands to re-write data protection agreement, 2008 http://www.statewatch.org/analyses/no-78-eu-us-dp.pdf

EurActiv, 6.10.09: Lawmaker: EU-US data deals 'will have to be re-opened' http://www.euractiv.com/en/justice/lawmaker-eu-us-data-deals-opened/article-186090

Spiegel Online International, 13.11.09: Berlin Against Anti-Terror Bank Data Deal http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,661117,00.html

Deutsche Welle, 12.11.09: EU to share consumers' financial data with US http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4887522,00.html

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