Negotiation on EU-US partnership now open. After all the over-dramatisation, the American espionage affair (with the Americans spying on the activities of both the European institutions and member state authorities, as well as on European economic activity in general) has been clarified a little and is now better understood. The procedure that has been chosen is reasonable - both the positive negotiations and those relating to the conflictual issues between the EU and US opened in parallel this Monday. For the very ambitious trade and investment partnership, the first session will take the whole week. At the same time, discussions have opened on behaviour considered as unacceptable forms of espionage - or virtually. All issues will be discussed and clarified, but without the conclusions on one aspect blocking the start of another. Put simply - the negotiation on the Euro-American partnership has now begun.
Is Cohn-Bendit contesting the European Parliament's legitimacy? The European Parliament is not unanimous on the parallel discussions on the different subjects with the Americans. Daniel Cohn-Bendit is continuing his battle against all issues being discussed alongside each other, demanding first the results of the “espionage” issue. Let me quote him: “Our amendment aiming to suspend the start of the trade negotiations did not unfortunately win majority support” (within the European Parliament) - just as binding legislation on data protection will not have been adopted.” He doesn't give up though. In order to “give the citizens the possibility of having their voices heard (…) we have launched an online petition that calls for the free trade negotiations not to be opened”. It's rather a strange initiative - coming just when the European Parliament is trying to become recognised by public opinion as the legitimate representative of European citizens!
It is true that Mr Cohn-Bendit does not intend to stand for the next elections and has taken on the role - which is moreover greatly merited - of observer and commentator on European affairs. What seems strange is that the European Parliament is becoming one of his targets just at the time when this institution's role and responsibilities are increasing. Today the European Parliament is the real interlocutor with the other institutions - including the heads of state and government. It is the key referee on the 2014-2020 multiannual framework (MFF) and effectively negotiated the way the MFF works, as well as the renewal of common policies.
Pointing this out to public opinion and making it understood should be the priority objectives of those who support European democracy.
A few truths on spying between allies. The careful and gradual dissemination of reality about the international espionage is gradually clarifying what a wide number of political forces, public opinion and several press bodies had presented as an enormous scandal. We are now gradually learning that the revelations that caused such great scandal held nothing new for specialists, who know only too well that everyone spies on everyone else - in that special services (which are called General direction for external security or the like) collect electromagnetic signals from any source. No one reads or listens to this over-abundant material, but the indications on the callers and on those called enable real interception to be made if necessary, and at the same time they enable profiles to be established on different categories of private and professional life.
Due to its size, the US gathers more data than others but, on the positive side, the US also applies a sort of parliamentary and judicial control that does not exist elsewhere.
Cooperation and deadlines. Of course, not everything is clear or transparent in the mechanisms I've mentioned - which, furthermore, are also used for trade and advertising purposes.
The initial procedures chosen by the EU and the US, by common agreement, are themselves rather enigmatic for non-specialists. The first two meetings are on an update on PRISM and the NSA, PNR and SWIFT agreements (see the first article in EUROPE 10882). And the European Parliament has a certain timeframe to give its official opinion - its civil liberties committee will lead an in-depth inquiry into the US surveillance programmes regarding, in particular, the allegations of bugging EU premises and espionage. It will present its results by the end of the year, as provided for in the resolution approved in last week's plenary session.
In the meantime, the negotiation on the Euro-American partnership should have progressed - to the advantage both of Europe and the US (and their economies).
(FR/transl.fl)