Brussels, 23/02/2000 (Agence Europe) - The hearing on the protection of privacy provided an opportunity for a review of (1) the current state of legislation, (2) the negotiations between the EU and the United States on the "safe harbour" concept, (3) international espionnage via the Echelon network. At the conclusion of two half-days of debate, the Chair of the Committee on Citizens' Freedoms, Graham Watson, stated that it would now be for the political groups to decide what further action should be taken on this issue. In his opinion, Mr Campbell's report on Echelon does not provide sufficient evidence of industrial spying. Mr Watson also called on enterprises that may have been victimised by this system to make their cases known. Several Members mentioned the possibility of setting up a committee of inquiry. At the request of the Belgian Chair of the Greens/EFA group, Paul Lannoye, the Conference of Presidents decided to include a debate on Echelon on the agenda of the plenary session on 30 March in Brussels. EUROPE will be back tomorrow with more on the hearing.