Q&A on Parliament's inquiry into mass surveillance of EU citizens 

 
 

The plenary vote on Parliament’s inquiry into mass surveillance of EU citizens concludes a 6-month investigation by its Civil Liberties Committee. MEPs looked into alleged spying by the US and some EU member states, assessed its impact on EU citizens’ rights (e.g. data protection, freedom of expression, presumption of innocence and effective remedy), recommended ways to prevent further breaches, explored redress mechanisms and suggested how to improve the IT security of EU institutions.


The committee started work in September 2013, on a mandate granted to it by Parliament as a whole on 4 July 2013, following the revelations by former US National Security.Agency contractor Edward Snowden.


Its conclusions were summed up in a report approved by the committee on 12 February and will be put to a vote by Parliament as a whole on 12 March.


The resolution was drafted by MEP Claude Moraes (S&D, UK).