MEPs have re-opened an international deal with the United States, known as “Swift” or the “Terrorist Finance Tracking Programme” (TFTP)

The deal would have given American officials unrestricted access to data on the personal banking transactions of EU citizens.

The deal had been signed and sealed by the European Commission earlier in June.

But not delivered. In last-minute negotiations between MEPs and EU ambassadors, MEPs have produced an unprecedented result.