ECHELON COMMITTEE
July 2000
EUROPEAN
PARLIAMENT
Composition of the temporary Committee on the ECHELON interception system
|
Chairman |
|
|
|
1st Vice-Chairman |
|
|
|
2d Vice-Chairman |
|
|
|
3rd Vice-Chairman |
|
|
|
Rapporteur |
|
|
|
Fraktion |
Mitglieder |
Stellvertreter |
|
PPE |
Banotti, von Boetticher,
Cederschiöld, Coelho, Deprez, Dimitrakopoulos, Hernández Mollar, Klamt,
Hugues Martin, Oostlander, Palacio Vallelersundi, Pirker, Van Velzen, Zappalà |
Buttiglione, Cornillet,
Gawronski, Giannakou-Koutsikou, Nassauer, Posselt, Johan Van Hecke, ... |
|
PSE |
Berger, Robert Evans,
Karamanou, Lalumière, Lund, Erika Mann, Medina Ortega, Paasilinna, Gerhard
Schmid, Vattimo, Wiersma |
Andersson, Caudron,
Ford, Gebhardt, Marinho, Paciotti, Swiebel, Swoboda, Terrón i Cusí,
Thielemans, Titley |
|
ELDR |
Di Pietro, Flesch,
Plooij-van Gorsel |
Andreasen, Thors,
Dybkjær |
|
VERTS/ALE |
Ceyhun, MacCormick,
McKenna |
Boumediene-Thiery, Ilka
Schröder, Lambert |
|
GUE/NGL |
Di Lello Finuoli, Krivine |
Frahm, Papayannakis |
|
UEN |
Berthu |
Nobilia |
|
TDI |
Turco |
Frank Vanhecke |
|
EDD |
Belder |
Okking |
At http://www.europarl.eu.int/tempcom/echelon/en/members.htm
EU Parliament : Decision of 5 July 2000 setting up a temporary committee on the ECHELON interception system
Doc: B5-0593/2000:
The European Parliament,
- having regard to Rule 150(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
- having regard to the decision of the Conference of Presidents of 15 June 2000 to propose the setting up of a temporary committee on the ECHELON interception system, Decides to set up a temporary committee with the following powers: - to verify the existence of the communications interception system known as ECHELON, whose operation is described in the STOA report published under the title "Development of surveillance technology and risks of abuse of economic information";
- to assess the compatibility of such a system with Community law, in particular Article 286 of the EC Treaty and Directives 95/46/EC and 97/66/EC, and with Article 6(2) of the EU Treaty, in the light of the following questions:
o are the rights of European citizens protected against activities of secret services?
o is encryption an adequate and sufficient protection to guarantee citizens' privacy or should additional measures be taken and if so what kind of measures?
o how can the EU institutions be made better aware of the risks posed by these activities and what measures can be taken?
o to ascertain whether European industry is put at risk by the global interception of communications;
o possibly, to make proposals for political and legislative initiatives;
Decides that the temporary committee will have 36 members, whose names are annexed to this decision.
EU Parliament : Decision to set up a temporary committee of inquiry
Doc: B5-0594/2000,
Vote : Wednesday 5 July 2000:
Composition of the temporary Committee on the ECHELON interception system is at http://www.europarl.eu.int/tempcom/echelon/en/members.htm
Parliament voted to set up a Temporary Committee on the Echelon interception system.
The Temporary Committee will have 36 Members:
Mary Elizabeth
BANOTTI (EPP/ED, IRL),
Christian Ulrik
von BOETTICHER (EPP/ED, D),
Charlotte
CEDERSCHIÖLD (EPP/ED, S),
Carlos COELHO
(EPP/ED, P),
Gérard DEPREZ
(EPP/ED, B),
Giorgos
DIMITRAKOPOULOS (EPP/ED, GR),
Jorge Salvador
HERNANDEZ MOLLAR (EPP/ED, E),
Eva KLAMT
(EPP/ED, D),
Hugues MARTIN
(EPP/ED, F),
Arie OOSTLANDER
(EPP/ED, NL),
Ana PALACIO
VALLELERSUNDI (EPP/ED, S),
Hubert PIRKER
(EPP/ED, A),
W.G. VAN VELZEN
(EPP/ED, NL)
Stefano ZAPPALA'
(EPP/ED, IT);
Maria BERGER
(PES, A),
Robert EVANS
(PES, UK),
Anna KARAMANOU
(PES, GR),
Catherine
LALUMIERE (PES, F),
Torben LUND (PES,
DK),
Erika MANN (PES,
D),
Manuel MEDINA
ORTEGA (PES, E),
Reino PAASILINNA
(PES, FIN),
Gerhard SCHMID
(PES, D),
Gianni VATTIMO
(PES, IT),
Jan Marinus
WIERSMA (PES, NL);
Antonio DI PIETRO
(ELD, I),
Colette FLESCH
(ELD, L),
Elly PLOOIJVAN
GORSEL (ELD, NL);
Ozan CEYHUN
(GREENS/EFA, D),
Neil MacCORMICK
(GREENS/EFA, UK),
Patricia McKENNA
(GREENS/EFA, IRL);
Giuseppe DI LELLO
FINUOLI (EUL/NGL, I),
Alain KRIVINE (EUL/NGL, F);
Georges BERTHU (UEN,
F);
Maurizio TURCO
(TDI, IT);
Bastiaan BELDER
(EDD, NL).
The committee will be instructed to verify the existence of Echelon, an interception system that is reported to be used by the secret services of the US, the UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand to intercept all telecommunications. It will also be required to determine whether such a system is compatible with Community law, in particular where the public's right to be protected against secret service activities is concerned. The committee will be asked to investigate whether encryption can provide adequate protection for the privacy of members of the public. It will also look into whether European business interests are being or might be harmed by the system by way of economic espionage. Lastly, the committee will, where appropriate, be authorised to submit policy and legislative proposals.
Before the vote, Timothy KIRKHOPE (EPP/ED, UK) drew attention to two investigations into Echelon that had been set up in France by the public prosecutor and the French secret service. He sought an assurance from the French government that the French investigations would not form any obstacle to investigations by the European Parliament.
Francis WURTZ (EUL/NGL, F) considered that the very existence of the French investigations had overturned the main objection to a committee of enquiry hitherto, viz. that no enquiry could be held into the secret services. Paul LANNOYE (GREENS/EFA, B) held to his preference for a committee of enquiry, and considered that the argument that communications had to be open to interception in order to combat serious crime was irrelevant in this connection, since any such action required a legislative framework.
Graham WATSON (ELDR, UK) considered that investigations should not be confined to Echelon but should also extend to other systems that could violate personal privacy.
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: provisional Agenda for the temporary committee on the ECHELON interception system (5.7.2000 - )
|
06.07.2000 |
10:30-11:30 |
Constituent meeting –
Strasbourg LOW S2.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
05.09.2000 |
17:30-19:00 |
Strasbourg |
|
|
|
|
|
11.09.2000 |
15:00-18:30 |
Brussels |
|
12.09.2000 |
9:00-12:30 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
12.10.2000 |
15:00-18:30 |
Brussels |
|
|
|
|
|
2.11.2000 |
15:00-18:30 |
Brussels |
|
|
|
|
|
23.11.2000 |
9:00-12:30 |
|
The Committee can be contacted via dg2-echelon@europarl.eu.int
Related STOA Study · European Parliament Publications - No EP/IV/B/STOA/98/1401
The reports (in English) are available the EP at
http://www.europarl.eu.int/dg4/stoa/en/publi/default.htm
The full series of reports on the “Development of surveillance technology and risk of abuse of economic information” are:
VOL 1 1) Presentation of the four studies
2) Analysis: Data protection and human rights in the European Union
and the role of the European Parliament. PDF 240KB)
VOL 2 Interception Capabilities 2000 (PDF 1026 KB)
VOL 3 Encryption and cryptosystems in electronic
surveillance:
a survey of
the technology assessment issues (PDF 276 KB)
VOL 4 The legality of the interception of electronic
communications: a concise
survey of the principal legal issues and
under international, European
and national law (PDF 121 KB)
VOL 5 The
perception of economic risks arising from the potential vulnerability of
electronic commercial media to (PDF 91 KB)
Printed copies of the report can be ordered, free of charge, by sending a request, by letter or fax r e-mail, to:
Frans SCHAERLAEKEN
Parlement Européen
STOA SCH 04A035
L-2929 Luxembourg
Fax : (352) 4300-22418 or 4300-24167
E-mail : fschaerlaeken@europarl.eu.int
THE GREENS/EFA IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PRESS RELEASE
Strasbourg, 5th July 2000
Greens/EFA regrets that inquiry committee on Echelon spying system was turned down
Euro-MPs opt for toothless talkingshop
The Green/EFA Group in the European Parliament today expressed its disappointment with Euro-MP's willingness to bow to individual EU governments' wishes and reject an inquiry committee on the Echelon spying system. Heidi Hautala and Paul Lannoye, Co-Presidents of the Green/EFA Group and Nelly Maes, Vice-president declare:
"We deeply regret that a majority of parliamentarians voted against setting up an inquiry committee on Echelon and opted instead for a temporary committee. They have chosen a toothless instrument, because as Parliament's legal services have clearly stated - a temporary committee cannot conduct inquiries. It will not have the power to call on people to testify and has no right to access confidential documents - which is clearly a prerequisite when investigating a spying system. It is in danger of being no more than a mere talkingshop.
The vote also proved that most of the conservative, socialists and liberals members are unwilling to go against the wishes of certain EU governments.
But at least we now have more support for our demand than for the original call for an investigation. More members supported the proposal this time round. (210 votes in favour / 340 against to compare with the 180 original signatories).
The Green/EFA Group will follow the work of the newly installed temporary committee carefully and make the most out of what's on offer. "
***************************************************
Press Service of the
Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament
Helmut Weixler (press officer)
phone: 0032-2-284.4683
fax: 0032-2-284.4944
mobile phone: 0032-75-67 13 40
e-mail: hweixler@europarl.eu.int
website: www.europarl.eu.int/greens
European Parliament proposal setting up a temporary committee on the ECHELON interception system
Doc : B5-0593/2000/rev. 29 June 2000
PROPOSAL FOR A DECISION
pursuant to Rule 150(2)
by the Conference of Presidents
setting up a temporary committee on the ECHELON interception system
The European Parliament,
- having regard to Rule 150(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
- having regard to the decision of the Conference of Presidents of 15 June 2000 to propose the setting up of a temporary committee on the ECHELON interception system,
1. Decides to set up a temporary committee with the following powers:
- to verify the existence of the communications interception system known as ECHELON, whose operation is described in the STOA report published under the title "Development of surveillance technology and risks of abuse of economic information";
- to assess the compatibility of such a system with Community law, in particular Article 286 of the EC Treaty and Directives 95/46/EC and 97/66/EC, and with Article 6(2) of the EU Treaty, in the light of the following questions:
- are the rights of European citizens protected against activities of secret services?
- is encryption an adequate and sufficient protection to guarantee citizens' privacy or should additional measures be taken and if so what kind of measures?
- how can the EU institutions be made better aware of the risks posed by these activities and what measures can be taken?
- to ascertain whether European industry is put at risk by the global interception of communications;
- possibly, to make proposals for political and legislative initiatives;
2. Decides that the temporary committee will have 36 members, whose names are annexed to this decision.
ANNEX
SETTING UP OF TEMPORARY COMMITTEE
PPE-DE
Full members: Banotti, von Boetticher, Cederschiöld, Coelho, Deprez, Dimitrakopoulos, Hernández Mollar, Klamt, Hugues Martin, Oostlander, Palacio Vallelersundi, Pirker, Van Velzen, Zappalà.
Substitutes: Buttiglione, Cornillet, Gawronski, Giannakou-Koutsikou, Nassauer, Posselt, Johan Van Hecke "****.." "****.." "****.." "****.." "****.." "****.." "****.."
PSE
Full members: Berger, Robert Evans, Karamanou, Lalumière, Lund, Erika Mann, Medina Ortega, Paasilinna, Gerhard Schmid, Vattimo, Wiersma
Substitutes: Andersson, Caudron, Ford, Gebhardt, Marinho, Paciotti, Swiebel, Swoboda, Terrón i Cusí, Thielemans, Titley
ELDR
Full members: Di Pietro, Flesch, Plooij-van Gorsel
Substitutes: Andreasen, Thors, Dybkjær
VERTS/ALE
Full members: Ceyhun, MacCormick, McKenna
Substitutes: Boumediene-Thiery, Schröder, Lambert
GUE/NGL
Full members: Di Lello Finuoli, Krivine
Substitutes: Frahm, Papayannakis
UEN
Full member: Berthu
Substitute: Nobilia
TDI
Full member: Turco
Substitute: Frank Vanhecke
EDD
Full member: Belder
Substitute: Okking
News
and developments
On Wednesday 5 July 2000, the European Parliament appointed a temporary committee to investigate issues related to Echelon. Details of its membership and agenda are included in this summary. The WP committee has a web site at http://www.europarl.eu.int/tempcom/en/default.htm.
Also on Wednesday 5 July, the Bundestag (German Parliament) Committee on European Union affairs (Ausschuss die Angelegenheiten der Europäischen Union) held a two hour long meeting on Echelon. The committee heard evidence from myself and from Dr Alexander Dix, the Data Protection and Freedom on Information commissioner for the German state (Land) of Brandenburg. The hearing covered the STOA Report, developments in the European Parliament, legal issues, the status of the NSA station at Bad Aibling, and industrial espionage.
On Wednesday 19 July, members of the Japanese Diet will have a briefing on Echelon, followed by a press conference.
In The Hague, the Dutch Parliament Committee on Justice has said that it will schedule hearings on Echelon and related subjects in September or October.
In the United States, Sunday 6 August, CBS Sixty Minutes will be re-broadcasting their report on Echelon, first shown. I have completed a report on “Sigint and Human Rights”, which will be published in the near future by EPIC, the Electronic Privacy Information Center, in Washington DC. (www.epic.org).
Among recent sites with information on these issues are Cyber-Rights & Cyber-Liberties (UK), "Echelon Watch": http://www.cyber-rights.org/interception/echelon;
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has an Echelon site: http://www.echelonwatch.org;
A new site at ZDNet (UK) began in
June: www.zdnet.co.uk/news/specials/2000/06/echelon;
Yahoo has filed some articles at: http://fullcoverage.yahoo.com/fc/World/Espionage_and_Spying.