WRITTEN QUESTION E-0337/99

by Giuseppe Rauti (NI) to the Commission

(23 February 1999)

Subject: US espionage system in Europe

Is the Commission aware of the sensational and well documented accusation made by the "guarantor of privacy" in Italy, Mr Stefano Rodotà, concerning continuing widespread espionage by the United States through the "Echelon system"? Mr Rodotà, a world expert in these matters, who has been a consultant at the Council of Europe in Paris and Strasbourg for many years, gave a preview of his report to the Italian Parliament in an interview on the Internet (with "dozens of pages describing new scenarios and containing an accusation", according to a report by Andrea Di Nicola in "La Repubblica" of 2 February 1999) stressing the seriousness of the fact that the United States 'continues to remain silent about the top secret civil espionage system called "Echelon" which is a highly sophisticated "planetary interception system able to penetrate anywhere and monitor faxes, telephone calls and electronic mail" and, according to the European Parliament as well, uses 25 geostationary satellites and the United States NSA's spy satellite Vortex.

Does the Commission intend to take action in view of the above, and will it state what information it has on this subject?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan on behalf of the Commission

(24 March 1999)

There are two directives (Directive 95/46/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 1995(1) and Directive 97/66/EC of the Parliament and the Council of 15 December 1997(2)) on the subject of the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data, the free movement of such data and the protection of privacy in the sector of telecommunications. The implementation period of both directives has expired.

These directives express the position of the Community on these sensitive issues, and aim to ensure the rights and freedoms of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data, and in particular their right to privacy, together with the free flow of personal data in the Community. The scope of the directives is limited to the issues which come within Comunity competence. Both allow exemptions to safeguard particular interests such as public security or the prevention, investigation, detection and prosecution of criminal offences. Any citizen who feels that his privacy interests are prejudiced can either complain to the national supervisory data protection authorities or address a national court.

On the Echelon system the Honourable Member is referred to the answers to Written Questions E-1039/98 and E-1040/98 from Ms Van Dijk(3), E-1306/98 from Ms Muscardini(4) and others, E-1429/98 from Ms Raschhofer(5), E-

1776/98 from Mr Manisco(6), E-1987/98 from Mr Kaklamanis(7), and oral questions H-1067/98 from Ms McKenna during question time at Parliament's December 1998 part-session(8) and H-0092/99 from Mr Theonas during question time at Parliament's February 1999 part-session(9).

(1) OJ L 281, 23.11.1995.

(2) OJ L 24, 30.1.1998.

(3) OJ C 354, 19.11.1998, p. 55.

(4) OJ C 402, 22.12.1998, p. 109.

(5) OJ C 50, 22.2.1999, p. 35.

(6) OJ C 50, 22.2.1999, p. 90.

(7) OJ C 13, 18.1.1999, p. 130.

(8) Debates of the Parliament (December 1998).

(9) Debates of the Parliament (February 1999).