    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book II)]
    [September 27, 2006]
    [Page 1710]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Senate Transmitting the United States-European Union
    Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance
    September 27, 2006

    To the Senate of the United States:
        With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the Senate to
    ratification, I transmit herewith the Agreement on Mutual Legal
    Assistance between the United States of America and the European Union
    (EU), signed on June 25, 2003, at Washington, together with 25 bilateral
    instruments that subsequently were signed between the United States and
    each European Union Member State in order to implement the Agreement
    with the EU, and an explanatory note that is an integral part of the
    Agreement. I also transmit, for the information of the Senate, the
    report of the Department of State with respect to the Agreement and
    bilateral instruments.
        A parallel agreement with the European Union on extradition,
    together with bilateral instruments, will be transmitted to the Senate
    separately. These two agreements are the first law enforcement
    agreements concluded between the United States and the European Union.
    Together they serve to modernize and expand in important respects the
    law enforcement relationships between the United States and the 25 EU
    Member States, as well as formalize and strengthen the institutional
    framework for law enforcement relations between the United States and
    the European Union itself.
        The U.S.-EU Mutual Legal Assistance Agreement contains several
    innovations that should prove of value to U.S. prosecutors and
    investigators, including in counterterrorism cases. The Agreement
    creates an improved mechanism for obtaining bank information from an EU
    Member State, elaborates legal frameworks for the use of new techniques
    such as joint investigative teams, and establishes a comprehensive and
    uniform framework for limitations on the use of personal and other data.
    The Agreement includes a non-derogation provision making clear that it
    is without prejudice to the ability of the United States or an EU Member
    State to refuse assistance where doing so would prejudice its
    sovereignty, security, public, or other essential interests.
        I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration
    to the Agreement and bilateral instruments.

                                                              George W. Bush

     The White House,

     September 27, 2006.

    Note: This message was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    September 28. An original was not available for verification of the
    content of this message.