S.O.S. Europe
01 May 2001
Statewatch Observatory on Surveillance in Europe
see also:
Observatory in defence of freedom and democracy - new measures affecting civil liberties after 11 September
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The "war on freedom and democracy"
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The “war on freedom and democracy”: a 5,000 word analysis of the effects on civil liberties and democratic culture in the EU by Statewatch editor,Tony Bunyan:
Analysis
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EU-US cooperation
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Secret EU-US agreement being negotiated: Secret agreement on criminal matters, investigative procedures and joint teams being negotiated without the the European or national parliaments being consulted. Statewatch refused access to full-text of document because: “the interest of protecting the Council’s objectives outweighs the interest in “democratic control”":
Special Report
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Targeting, databases and the exchange of data
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"Secret Europe": Denied EU document reveals issues of public interest: document refused on grounds it concerned the "campaign against terrorism" contains further far-reaching proposals on surveillance, particularly of immigrants, including: "preventive information gathering":
Report
EU Presidency proposal on security screening of all immigrants:
Statewatch analysis
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The surveillance of telecommunications
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European Conference of Data Protection Commissioners opposes proposed EU Framework Decision on data retention:
statement
EU Presidency issues statement on data retention: - statement does nothing to refute the existence of a draft Framework Decision:
Report
EU surveillance of communications: data retention to be "compulsory" for 12-24 months - draft Framework Decision leaked to Statewatch - revised 21.8.02 with press coverage:
Special report
EU surveillance of telecommunications: The vote in the European Parliament to accept data retention and surveillance by the law enforcement agencies:
Report & Analysis
European Parliament caves in on data retention:
Report
The "unholy alliance" of the PSE/socialist group and the PPE/conservative group - who together have a large majority in the parliament - today, 30 May, joined forces with the Spanish Presidency of the EU and voted to accept the demands of EU governments and law enforcement agencies to place telecommunications under surveillance. The rapporteur (M Cappato), the ELDR (Liberals), Green/EFA group and the GUE (United Left) voted against.
Responses by civil society groups to Ms. Paciotti (PSE MEP, socialist group) letter of 28 May 2002:
Responses by civil society groups (updated 31.5.02)
UK government forced to delay new surveillance powers: government wi