Attacks from America: NSA Spied on European Union Offices

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Series Details 29.06.13
Publication Date 29/06/2013
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America's NSA intelligence service allegedly targeted the European Union with its spying activities. According to SPIEGEL information obtained from US whistleblower Edward Snowden in June 2013, the US placed bugs in the EU representation in Washington and infiltrated its computer network. Cyber attacks were also perpetrated against the EU in New York and Washington.

The President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz demanded on the 29 June 2013 'full clarification' over the report. He said that if this was true, it would have a 'severe impact' on ties between the EU and the US.

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission issued a statement on the 30 June 2013 expressing concern at the allegations and seeking clarification from the US authorities.

The Guardian reported on the 30 June 2013 that the prospects for a new trade pact between the US and the European Union will suffer a severe setback following the allegations. Some EU policymakers said talks for a free trade agreement between Washington and the EU should be put on ice until further clarification from the United States over revelations that American spies wiretapped European Union buildings in Brussels and Washington.

Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany was quoted as saying on the 1 July 2013: 'The monitoring of friends -- this is unacceptable, it can't be tolerated. We're no longer in the Cold War'.

Also on the 1 July 2013, the European Parliament’s lead negotiator on the draft data protection regulation, Jan Philip Albrecht, suspects US agents may have snooped on EU officials linked to the file.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/nsa-spied-on-european-union-offices-a-908590.html
Related Links
BBC News, 30.06.13: EU concern over Der Spiegel claim of US spying http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-23116517
Europeaan Parliament: President: Press Release, 29.06.13: Schulz on alleged bugging of EU office by the US authorities http://www.europarl.europa.eu/the-president/en/press/press_release_speeches/press_release/2013/2013-june/pdf/schulz-on-alleged-bugging-of-eu-office-by-the-us-authorities
ESO: Background Information: US scandal shows EU needs 'highest standards' on data privacy http://www.europeansources.info/record/us-scandal-shows-eu-needs-highest-standards-on-data-privacy/
France24, 30.06.13: Snowden document reveals US bugged, spied on EU http://www.france24.com/en/20130630-usa-europe-prism-scandal-washington-spying-brussels-offices
Deutsche Welle, 30.06.13: Magazine NSA report provokes EU ire http://www.dw.de/magazine-nsa-report-provokes-eu-ire/a-16916046
The Guardian, 30.06.13: Key US-EU trade pact under threat after more NSA spying allegations http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/30/nsa-spying-europe-claims-us-eu-trade
ESO: Background Information: Governments to give green light for US trade talks http://www.europeansources.info/record/governments-to-give-green-light-for-us-trade-talks/
EUObserver, 01.07.13: EU-US relations at risk after new bugging scandal http://euobserver.com/foreign/120689
EurActiv, 01.07.13: EU calls for US wiretapping to ‘stop immediately’ http://www.euractiv.com/global-europe/eu-calls-us-wiretapping-immediat-news-528984
Deutsche Welle, 30.06.13: US to respond to NSA spying allegations http://dw.de/p/18yqj
Deutsche Welle, 01.07.13: Germany 'astonished' at US spy reports, Kerry addresses the leaks http://dw.de/p/18z3k
European Commission: RAPID: MEMO/13/634: Statement by the European Commission on alleged surveillance of EU premises http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-634_en.pdf
European Commission / EEAS: RAPID: MEMO/13/633: Statement by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on the alleged surveillance of EU premises http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-633_en.pdf
New York Times, 30.06.13: Europeans Voice Anger Over Reports of Spying by U.S. on Its Allies http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/01/world/europe/europeans-voice-anger-over-reports-of-spying-by-us-on-its-allies.html
The Guardian, 01.07.13: New leaks show how US is bugging its European allies (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief/3927691-new-leaks-show-how-us-bugging-its-european-allies
Spiegel Online International, 01.07.13: Diplomatic Fallout: Experts Warn of Trans-Atlantic Ice Age http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/trans-atlantic-relations-threatened-by-revelations-of-mass-us-spying-a-908746.html
EUObserver, 01.07.13: EU data bill is likely target of NSA snoops http://euobserver.com/justice/120700
EUObserver, 01.07.13: EU capitals call on US to stop 'unacceptable' spying http://euobserver.com/foreign/120697
EurActiv, 02.07.13: MEPs call for freezing EU-US trade talks over spying allegations http://www.euractiv.com/global-europe/meps-call-freezing-eu-us-trade-t-news-529020
EurActiv, 02.07.13: Reding: 'I am still awaiting a written response' over US, UK spying allegations http://www.euractiv.com/infosociety/reding-doubts-eu-institutions-da-news-529031
The Guardian, 02.07.13: Europe must get tough with the US over NSA spying revelations http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jul/02/europe-us-nsa-spying
The New York Times, 03.07.13: European drama queens (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/3935951-european-drama-queens
European Council: Press Release, PRES/13/313: Statement by the spokespersons of the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy on the press reports of US surveillance of EU premises http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/137682.pdf

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