Suddenly the politicians of the EU Commission were quickly (I know, 'politicians' and 'fast' is really a paradox) and the Swift-agreement with the U.S. was before 1 December 'jerk-twitch' waved through. Because today is the Lisbon Treaty and would have given the EU Parliament in this case, a voice, which had to be prevented, because there are sitting too much critics of this Agreement.
But what is it?
With much effort, the money flow-control of transfers between EU and third countries a computer center in the U.S. brought back to Europe in order to prevent unrestricted access to the data of financial transfers from the United States. This is needed, however, according to U.S. authorities for counter-terrorism. And so the U.S. is seen quickly access rights before it enlarged by the rights contained in the Lisbon Treaty of the EU parliament again possibly could have been called into question.
These rights are enshrined in an agreement which contains so much fuzzy rules, and so the U.S. again leaves enough room for interpretation.
And what does the new German Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière in this vote is converted to Swift-in agreement with the Privacy feet: he abstains!
If I am asked strangers on the street whether they should paint their toenails red or purple, I say that this is my shit does not matter (in other words: I am abstaining from voting). But not for such a topic!
Definitely not from Germany, as required by the FDP would have been appropriate.
Link:
http://www.zeit.de/digital/datenschutz/2009-11/swift-eu-kommission?page=all
