Joint EU-US group to assess US spy ops

A joint EU-US expert group will investigate alleged US spying on EU officials and report its findings in October, 2013 the European Commission announced on the 3 July 2013.

EUObserver reported that France and Germany backed down on threats to suspend US trade talks, after the US offered to set up the 'working groups' on data protection.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background Information: Parliament to launch enquiry into US eavesdropping http://www.europeansources.info/record/parliament-to-launch-enquiry-into-us-eavesdropping/

European Commission: RAPID: SPEECH/13/607: U.S. and EU Member State surveillance programmes: National security does not mean that anything goes http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-13-607_en.pdf

EUObserver, 03.07.13: France and Germany eat their words on US trade talks http://euobserver.com/foreign/120750

ESO: Background Information: Attacks from America: NSA Spied on European Union Offices http://www.europeansources.info/record/attacks-from-america-nsa-spied-on-european-union-offices/

Social Europe Journal, 05.07.13: Is Spying On Other European States Illegal? http://www.social-europe.eu/2013/07/is-spying-on-other-european-states-illegal/

El Periódico de Catalunya, 05.07.13: Europe is annoyed, but will end up negotiating (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief/3944101-europe-annoyed-will-end-negotiating

EurActiv, 08.07.13: Spying scandal will not threaten trade deal, says top US envoy http://www.euractiv.com/trade/spying-scandal-threaten-trade-de-news-529132

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