NOTING the rigorous controls and safeguards utilised by the U.S. Treasury Department for the handling, use, and dissemination of financial payment messaging data pursuant to the TFTP, as described in the representations of the U.S. Treasury Department published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 20 July 2007 and the Federal Register of the United States on 23 October 2007, which reflect the ongoing cooperation between the United States and the European Union in the fight against global terrorism.

Welcomes the close cooperation between the EU and the United States on the Iranian nuclear issue leading, on 3 March 2008, to the adoption by the UNSC of the abovementioned Resolution 1803 (2008), which imposes new sanctions on Iran; calls on the United States, following its diplomatic success in the negotiations with North Korea, to participate directly in negotiations with Iran along with the EU, since the United States is in a position to offer additional security guarantees taking account of Iran's security concerns; stresses the importance of cooperation with the United States, Russia, China and non-aligned countries with a view to cons ...[+++]idering complementary ideas aimed at achieving a comprehensive agreement with Iran on its nuclear facilities and their use;

Calls on the United States immediately to lift the visa regime and to treat all citizens of EU Member States equally, on the basis of full reciprocity; in this context, welcomes the start of EU-US talks on the new set of US security demands to establish a visa-free regime; is of the opinion that the negotiations must be transparent, be based on reciprocity and respect EU data protection provisions;

The European Union concluded an agreement with China in October 2003 and initiatives are under way with the United States (agreement in February 2004), Israel (agreement in March 2004), Russia, Brazil, India, Japan, Canada and South Korea.

The European Union concluded an agreement with China in October 2003 and initiatives are under way with the United States (agreement in February 2004), Israel (agreement in March 2004), Russia, Brazil, India, Japan, Canada and South Korea.

Besides the points made or to be made in those positions, this opinion analyses the current proposal by building on earlier comments of the EDPS, relating to both the interim agreement and the ongoing negotiations with the United States.