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Thursday 28 Nov 2013 @ 12:05
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MEPs not convinced by positive reports of data exchange deals with the US
Civil Liberties MEPs criticised Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmström for "ignoring" Parliament's call to suspend the Terrorist Finance Tracking Programme (TFTP) deal with the US, in a debate on Wednesday. Most speakers asked for proof that the US had not breached the agreement and called for a data extraction system on EU soil to avoid sending bulk data to the US.
"I have received no evidence that the TFTP agreement has been breached," the Commissioner told MEPs, stressing that the entire College of Commissioners had decided on Wednesday to close the consultations with the US on the implementation of the TFTP agreement.
"We cannot accept that the Commission simply ignores Parliament's request" to suspend the TFTP agreement. This is a "severe interinstitutional problem", said Jan Philipp Albrecht (Greens/EFA, DE).
"Before we close this chapter, we need to have an answer to these allegations," Claude Moraes (S&D, UK) said. Sophie in't Veld (ALDE, NL) echoed Mr Albrecht's criticism and stressed: "I am not reassured at all. This chapter cannot be closed."
Lots of assurances but no proof
Several MEPs stressed that assurances from the US are not enough and demanded proof that these agreements had not been violated. "Where is the proof? I am getting fed up with assurances that come with no proof," Cornelia Ernst (GUE/NGL, DE) told the Commissioner. Sarah Ludford (ALDE, UK) also called for proof that data exchange agreements have in fact helped to stop terrorist attacks.
"This reminds me of the fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood," Ms in't Veld said. "Asking the NSA is like asking the wolf if he has eaten grandma".
"Are we going to declare war on the US?" Anna Maria Corazza Bildt (EPP, SE) asked. "We are talking about two agreements, not mass surveillance; I am not sure that bashing and smashing is the right way to go," she added. "These agreements are all important for the security of our citizens," said Timothy Kirkhope (ECR, UK), welcoming the Commission's approach. "The US is one of our most important allies to fight terrorism and we must find ways to work together in the future. We need to separate issues of intelligence-gathering and police cooperation," he added.
Replying to MEPs' questions, Ms Malmström said "The Commission is not the police, we cannot investigate (...), we can ask questions." On the NSA surveillance she said: "We are still very concerned with what the NSA has been doing. (...) We didn't get all the answers and we will keep on pushing."
No EU Terrorist Finance Tracking System
Ms Malmström confirmed that the Commission did not intend to table a proposal for a European Terrorist Finance Tracking System (TFTS) since “it would not bring any additional intelligence improvements as compared to the current situation”.
“You say that an EU TFTS would be too expensive but what about all the money made available in the EU budget for an EU PNR system?” asked Birgit Sippel (S&D, DE), stressing that “the aim of extraction on EU soil is to avoid dealing with all bulk data sent to the US”.
“Swift is bulk data based on individual investigations,” Ms Malmström replied, asking if it would be proportionate to have an extraction system on European soil. “I have my doubts but I leave it to you and the Council,” she concluded.
In the chair: Kinga Göncz (S&D, HU)
: 20131127IPR27769 : 20131127IPR27769
Updated: ( 28-11-2013 - 10:36)
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