Mass surveillance: EU citizens' rights still in danger, MEPs say
Too little has been done to safeguard citizens' data privacy rights following revelations of electronic mass surveillance, MEPs will tell the Council and Commission in a debate on Wednesday. In a draft resolution to be voted on Thursday, MEPs urge the Commission to come up with alternatives to the “Safe Harbour” deal, which the EU Court of Justice recently ruled unsafe, on transfers of EU citizens’ personal data to the US. They also raise concerns about surveillance laws in several EU countries.
Civil Liberties Committee MEPs are concerned about "recent laws in some member states that extend the surveillance capabilities of intelligence bodies", particularly in France, the UK and the Netherlands. They are also worried by reports of mass surveillance of telecommunications and internet traffic inside the EU by the German foreign intelligence agency BND, in cooperation with the US National Security Agency (NSA).
Background
This draft resolution takes stock of the action (or lack of action) by the European Commission, other EU institutions and member states to follow up the recommendations set out by Parliament in its resolution of 12 March 2014 on the electronic mass surveillance of EU citizens.
Procedure: oral question to Council and Commission (with resolution)
Debate: Wednesday, 28 October
Vote: Thursday, 29 October
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