Following the recommendation of rapporteur Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert (Member of the Liberal and Democrat group) the Civil Liberties Committee today concluded that the conditions for approving the interim so-called 'Swift' agreement have not been met. The agreement, which entered into force, provisionally, at the beginning of this week, needs the consent of the European Parliament to be formally concluded. The full plenary is due to vote next Thursday in Strasbourg.

Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert (VVD, Netherlands), EP rapporteur on the subject, insisted:

"So far the Council has not granted Parliament access to all relevant information and documentation pertaining to the interim agreement, nor does it respond to our requests on the mandate for negotiation of a permanent agreement. In addition, a number of serious legal reservations to the interim agreement, such as the very basic principles of necessity and proportionality are being violated as well as the lack of reciprocity, all of which add up to making it impossible to give our assent."

"This afternoon's vote of the Civil Liberties Committee has no legal consequence for the provisional application of the agreement. It is, however, a very clear warning to Council in run up to the plenary vote next week. It must be clear that Parliament is not out there to just passively take note of Council's actions."
 
"Fact is that this house is always being promised jam tomorrow, if only we would be patient. However, we cannot keep falling for vague promises  - we need clear commitments by now. The ball is in Council's court and they should act accordingly. Postponement of the plenary vote can be considered only on the condition that Council comes through with a very concrete proposal addressing Parliament's concerns."

"At all times it must be clear that by withholding our consent on the interim agreement, the security of European citizens is not being compromised as other legal instruments remain available for trans-Atlantic counter terrorism purposes. The targeted exchange and use of specific data for counter terrorism purposes is without a doubt an essential plank in the fight against terrorism."