WRITTEN QUESTION P-0191/02 by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Council. Spain: Creation of anti-globalisation units and a database of demonstrators.
Date: 2002-01-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Spain, Treaty on European Union, antiglobalisation movement, database, exchange of information, personal data, protection of freedoms, protection of privacy, public order

29.8.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 205 E/79

The Ministry is apparently also updating a database which contains the personal details of a large number
of people who took part in demonstrations during the Göteborg, Genoa and Barcelona summits. The
database is said to contain information provided by different European police forces concerning the
protests that took place in these three cities.

In the same context, the Spanish intelligence services have stated that they have been monitoring the
Internet sites of anti-globalisation movements since December 2001.

Does the Council consider that setting up a database as described above is consistent with European
standards of protection of privacy and access to personal data?

Can the Council guarantee that the demonstrators who appear in the database will be able to gain access
to their personal data? If so, how?

(2002/C 205 E/088)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0180/02

by Alain Krivine (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(29 January 2002)

Subject: Spain: Creation of anti-globalisation units and a database

According to several sources of information, the Spanish Ministry of the Interior intends to set up ‘anti-
globalisation’ units that will be brought in during events that take place during the Spanish Presidency of
the EU,
in particular to prevent any disturbances during anti-globalisation
demonstrations.

in the first half of 2002,

Moreover, the Ministry is apparently also creating a database which contains the personal details of a large
number of people who took part in demonstrations during the Göteborg, Genoa and Barcelona summits.
The database is said to contain information provided by different European police forces concerning the
protests that took place in these three cities.

In the same context, the Spanish intelligence services have stated that they have been monitoring the
Internet sites of anti-globalisation movements since December 2001.

Does the Council consider that setting up a database as described above is consistent with the European
Treaties in regard to protection of privacy?

What criteria will be used, and in what contexts, to set up such a database?

(2002/C 205 E/089)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0191/02

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(29 January 2002)

Subject: Spain: Creation of anti-globalisation units and a database of demonstrators

It is reported by a number of information networks that the Spanish Ministry of the Interior has set up
‘anti-globalisation’ units that will be brought in during events that take place during the Spanish Presidency
of the EU, during first half of 2002, in particular to prevent any disturbances during anti-globalisation
demonstrations.

The Ministry is apparently also updating a database which contains the personal details of a large number
of people who took part in demonstrations during the Göteborg, Genoa and Barcelona summits. The
database is said to contain information provided by different European police forces concerning the
protests that took place in these three cities.

In the same context, the Spanish intelligence services have stated that they have been monitoring the
Internet sites of anti-globalisation movements since December 2001.

C 205 E/80

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

29.8.2002

Has the Spanish Government informed the Council of these measures?

Does the Council consider that setting up a database as described above is consistent with European
standards of protection of privacy?

Can the Council guarantee that the demonstrators who appear in the database will be able to gain access
to their personal data? If so, how?

(2002/C 205 E/090)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0205/02

by Luisa Morgantini (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(29 January 2002)

Subject: Creation of anti-globalisation units and a database of demonstrators

It is reported by a number of information networks that the Spanish Ministry of the Interior has set up
‘anti-globalisation’ units that will be brought in during events that take place during the Spanish Presidency
of the EU, during first half of 2002, in particular to prevent any disturbances during anti-globalisation
demonstrations.

The Ministry is apparently also updating a database which contains the personal details of a large number
of people who took part in demonstrations during the Göteborg, Genoa and Barcelona summits. The
database is said to contain information provided by different European police forces concerning the
protests that took place in these three cities. In the same context, the Spanish intelligence services have
stated that
since
December 2001.

they have been monitoring the Internet

sites of anti-globalisation movements

Has the Spanish Government informed the Council of these measures?

Does the Council consider that setting up a database as described above is consistent with European
standards of protection of privacy?

Can the Council guarantee that the demonstrators who appear in the database will be able to gain access
to their personal data?

Joint answer
to Written Questions P-0142/02, P-0152/02, P-0157/02, P-0180/02,
P-0191/02 and P-0205/02

(21 May 2002)

1.

The Council draws the attention to Article 33 of the Treaty on European Union, which says that:

This Title (Title VI: Provisions on police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters) shall not affect
the exercise of the responsibilities incumbent upon Member States with regard to the maintenance of
law and order and the safeguarding of internal security.

As concerns data protection, the Council of Europe Convention of 1981 for the protection of
2.
individuals with regard to automatic processing of personal data has been ratified by all 15 Member States.

3.
In the conclusions adopted by the Council and the Representatives of the Governments of the
Member States, on 13 July 2001, concerning security at meetings of the European Council and other
comparable events the objective of the European Union was recalled to maintain and develop the Union as
an area of freedom, security and justice. In such an area, citizens must enjoy the right freely to express
their opinions and to assemble in a peaceful manner, rights reflected in the European Convention on
Human Rights, and the right to do so in conditions where there is not a threat to their own security or to
that of other citizens or properties.