On Tuesday 17 October in Strasbourg, MEPs and in particular the chair and rapporteur of the PEGA spyware committee of inquiry, Jeroen Lenaers (EPP) and Sophie in ‘t Veld (Renew Europe) from the Netherlands, criticised the Commission’s intention to respond to their work with a non-legislative initiative in the form of guidelines, as communicated to them by the Vice-President for Values and Transparency, Věra Jourová.
With the work of PEGA completed in June (see EUROPE 13202/14), the Vice-President has given assurances that the Commission will “respond rapidly”, but has said that the response will not be legislative.
At the same time, the Vice-President acknowledged that new allegations about spyware had emerged and continued to reiterate the Commission’s total condemnation of the illegal tapping of citizens, journalists and political opponents. Protecting national security to justify these eavesdropping practices is not “a blank cheque” given to governments to shirk their responsibilities, she said, adding that clarity on this matter is crucial.
“We need urgent measures to regulate this spyware”, commented PEGA chair Jeroen Lenaers (EPP), condemning the lack of response from the Commission and the Member States to date.
“The Commission seems satisfied with the situation”, added the MEP, warning that the European Parliament would force it to act if necessary.
The rapporteur, Sophie in ‘t Veld, denounced the Commission’s “refusal to act”.
“Since the conclusion of our work, nothing has moved, either at the European Commission or within the Member States”, also commented French MEP Sylvie Guillaume (S&D), who pointed out that, according to the ‘Predator Files’ report published at the beginning of October by the European Investigative Collaborations (EIC) network, “more than 50 figures and institutions have been the target of attacks by spyware, in particular Predator, including the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola”. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)