WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1429/98 by Daniela RASCHHOFER to the Commission. Intercepting data on the Internet
Date: 1998-05-11
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: European Union, GATT, United States, data protection, information network, secret service, telecommunications, telephone

22.2.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 50/35

The hydrogeological study was asked for by the Commission when it took its decision to finance the Evinos
project (No 3438/3 of December 1993). That study was carried out by an independent consultancy, and following
its approval by the Ministries for the Environment and Public Works, it was sent to the Commission in October
1996.

(1999/C 50/050)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1420/98

by JosØ Barros Moura (PSE) to the Commission

(11 May 1998)

Subject: Guide to Community funding › 1997

Can the Commission provide an explanation and plausible justification for the fact that this useful guide does not
contain a single line on human rights and, in particular, on the European Initiative for Democracy and the
Protection of Human Rights, or even a reference to some other publication, even though the entire fourth section
is devoted to the topic Europe and the world?

Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission

(22 June 1998)

The Commission welcomes the interest shown by the Honourable Member in its Guide to Community funding.
The Guide explains how to gain access to Community funding under various policies. Human rights are not
covered under a specific chapter, as is the case with a number of other policies, but they are mentioned in all
contexts where they are relevant (e.g. pp. 148, 149, 153, 168 and 169). The Commission agrees with the
Honourable Member that they should be highlighted in the next update.

The Commission would nevertheless inform the Honourable Member that its Collected texts and commentary on
Community resources to finance action by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and government organisa-
tions and/or decentralised agencies of civil society working in the field of development cooperation and
humanitarian aid, contains a specific section dealing with the possibility of granting Community resources for the
protection of human rights and democracy.

(1999/C 50/051)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1429/98

by Daniela Raschhofer (NI) to the Commission

(11 May 1998)

Subject: Intercepting data on the Internet

As reported by the European Parliament(cid:146)s Committee on Civil Liberties and Internal Affairs, the American
intelligence service in Europe routinely intercepts e-mails, telephone calls and faxes. According to the
committee(cid:146)s report, the illicitly obtained information is transmitted by satellite to Fort Meade in Maryland
(the headquarters of the intelligence service). According to a report by the German television company ARD, the
European Union(cid:146)s telecommunications networks are also tapped constantly by the United States intelligence
service (NSA).

Is the Commission aware that the NSA has hacked into the EU data network and in this way come into

1.
possession of confidential information relating to the GATT negotiations?

2.

If so, what technical precautions and steps have been taken to block access to confidential information?

Does the Commission know what other classes of information or data networks the US secret service has

3.
accessed?

Does the Commission know whether the European Parliament is directly or indirectly affected by these

4.
activities by the US secret service?