Award of contracts for IT policing systems to external suppliers

22.12.2014

Question for written answer E-011205-14
to the Commission
Rule 130
Cornelia Ernst (GUE/NGL)

The US undertakings Computer Science Corporation (CSC) and Booz Allen Hamilton have (partly through subsidiaries) been awarded contracts for IT systems or consultancy work in many EU Member States. However, both firms are known for their cooperation with the US secret service NSA. This is all the more important because CSC and Booz Allen also install and support IT policing systems for border security/border control (e.g. in Denmark and Malta). In Commission paper COM(2014) 711, however, the Member States are urged not to award contracts for the operation of the Schengen Information System (SIS II) to ‘external suppliers’.

1. Which Member States is the Commission aware of where IT policing systems networked at EU level with each other have been awarded to ‘external suppliers’? In which of these Member States have Computer Science Corporation and Booz Allen Hamilton taken over contracts?2. How far has the Commission investigated whether IT systems in Malta and Denmark (or, if known, in other countries too) constitute a security risk to other EU Member States, because they are installed and operated by Computer Science Corporation and Booz Allen Hamilton?3. What policy is followed by the Commission with regard to a future award of contracts to Computer Science Corporation and Booz Allen Hamilton, and what advice will it give to the Member States on this?