Brussels, 20/12/2010 (Agence Europe) - The security and private life of citizens must be granted the same level of consideration, says Peter Hustinx, European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS). “Internal security is an area where there are clear risks of intrusions into the citizens' privacy. This is why security and privacy concerns should be taken equally seriously”, he said on 17 December in a stance on the Commission's communication on the EU's internal security strategy, which aims to target the most urgent security threats such as organised crime, terrorism, cybercrime, external border control and civilian disasters. “I am convinced that an effective internal security strategy cannot be put in place without the support of a solid data protection scheme complementing it. In other words: no zero sums of privacy and security - we need them both”, Hustinx added. He regretted the fact that, although the communication refers to private life and data protection as fundamental rights, the Commission does not explain how this objective can be attained in practice. (B.C./transl.jl)