The European Parliament’s Spyware Investigation Committee has adopted a report condemning abuses in several EU countries, including Poland, Hungary, Greece and Spain. “The EU should not interfere in any way with the national security of states,” said MEP Dominik Tarczyński (PiS). “In Europe there is no permission for illegal surveillance,” says MEP Andrzej Halicki (PO).
The Commission has adopted its final report and recommendations following a year-long investigation into the misuse of spyware in the EU. MEPs condemned “the misuse of spyware to intimidate the political opposition, silence critical media and rig elections”. They stated that “EU governance structures are incapable of dealing effectively with such attacks and reforms are needed”.
Absurd attitude of the committee
Commissioners condemned “serious violations of EU law in Poland and Hungary, where governments have dismantled independent oversight mechanisms”.
In the case of Hungary, MEPs argue that the use of spyware was “part of a calculated and strategic campaign to destroy media freedom and freedom of expression by the government”. According to MEPs, the use of Pegasus in Poland was part of the “surveillance system of the opposition and government critics – aimed at keeping the ruling majority and government in power”.
the EP said in a statement.
To remedy the situation, MEPs of the committee called on Hungary and Poland to “respect the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights and restore the independence of the judiciary and supervisory bodies”.
In the case of Greece, MEPs argue that the use of spyware “does not appear to be part of an integral authoritarian strategy, but rather an ad hoc tool for political and financial gain”. While Greece has “a fairly robust legal framework in principle”, “law changes have weakened the safeguards”. As a result, “spyware has been used against journalists, politicians and businessmen” in this country.
MEPs called on the government in Athens to “urgently restore and strengthen institutional and legal safeguards, withdraw export licenses that do not comply with EU export control rules, and ensure the independence of the Greek Communications Security and Privacy Authority (ADAE).”
They also note that “Cyprus has played an important role as a spyware export hub and should withdraw all export licenses issued that are not in compliance with EU law.”
As for Spain, MEPs said that the country has “an independent legal system with sufficient safeguards”, but that “there are still questions about the use of spyware”. Members note that the government is already working to address the shortcomings and call on authorities to ensure “full, fair and effective” investigations, especially in the 47 cases where it is not clear who authorized the deployment of spyware, and to ensure that targets are real remedies.
The committee’s MEPs want EU rules on the use of spyware by law enforcement, to be allowed only in exceptional cases for a predetermined purpose and for a limited period of time. They argue that data classified as confidential or owned by politicians, doctors or the media should be protected from surveillance unless there is evidence of criminal activity.
The report was criticized by MEP Tarczyński.
The report and recommendations of the European Parliament’s PEGA Commission of Inquiry are written and edited under the dissertation adopted from the outset: Countries Persecuted in the EU for Alleged Deficiencies in the Rule of Law – i.e. Poland and Hungary – Often Abuse of spyware to restrict civil liberties, fight opposition and build an authoritarian system
says Tarczynski. The MEP believes that the allegations regarding the use of spyware are intended to prove that the criticism of Poland and Hungary, which has been going on for years, was correct and that the line the EU has taken towards them is correct and even needs to be strengthened even more.
The MEP described “the attitude of the European People’s Party (EPP) and the Identity and Democracy (ID) Group, which would theoretically oppose the report, as capitular and disappointing, noting that both groups mainly tried to of countries such as Greece, Spain, France or Germany.
We at the ECR strongly reject this approach and take the position that the EU should not interfere in any way with the national security of Member States
– emphasized the PiS MEP.
He also pointed out that the report is highly inaccurate, in many ways one-sided and largely based on unconfirmed data from independent sources. However, according to him, the worst thing about the report is the unequal treatment of the countries described, by applying different measures to the same or similar phenomena.
MEP Halicki said after the vote that “thanks to the work of the PEGA commission, the whole of Europe has learned, among other things, how the PiS government is under opposition scrutiny and threatens the entire democratic system.”
The illegal operation of hacking the phone without any legal basis of the head of the election campaign – Senator Krzysztof Brejza – during the national and European elections in 2019 raises doubts about the correctness of their entire course. The next European Parliament elections are approaching, which is why it is so important for us to show solidarity that there is no permission for illegal surveillance in Europe
Halicki said.
Left attack
MEP Łukasz Kohut (Socialists and Democrats) stated after the vote that “the Pegasus affair is Soviet norms in practice”.
Soviet approach to privacy. The Soviet approach to using the tools available to the state. As the European Parliament, we must react when the rights of our citizens are violated – that is why the European Commission of Inquiry and its report was created. Authorities that falsely spy on their own citizens cannot hide behind state security. This is why there is massive eavesdropping by political opponents. We advocate the creation of a clear definition of national security, which, if invoked, should demonstrate compliance with EU law and with the principles of proportionality or adequacy
– assessed the MEP.
In two member states – PiS Poland and Orban’s Hungary – the use of Pegasus was strictly politically motivated and used to fight the opposition, independent judges and free media. Those responsible for these abuses and crimes must be tried by an independent judiciary
kohut added.
The report was adopted by 30 votes to 3 with 4 abstentions and the recommendations by 30 votes to 5 with 2 abstentions. The text is expected to be voted on in the EP’s plenary session starting on 12 June.
gah/PAP
Source: wPolityce