Parliament to launch enquiry into US eavesdropping

EurActiv reported that the European Parliament planned on the 4 July 2013 to establish a special committee to investigate the reports that the American spy agency NSA monitored phone calls and e-mails of EU institutions and some member states. But some MEPs also sought to downplay pressure to freeze EU-US trade negotiations over the spying allegations.

The special panel was established by the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) and would deliver a report by the end of 2013.

Nevertheless EUObserver reported that the European Commission made clear on the 2 July 2013 that EU-US free trade talks were still scheduled to start on the 11 July 2013 despite tension over the issue.

• Primary Source

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/

European Parliament: Press Release, 03.07.13: Summit conclusions, EU long-term budget and PRISM top debate with EU leaders http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pressroom/content/20130628IPR14600/

EUObserver, 03.07.13: Barroso keen to start US trade talks despite spy affair http://euobserver.com/economic/120736

ESO: Background Information: Commission discussion on the alleged US intelligence activities targeting EU institutions and Member States http://www.europeansources.info/record/memo-commission-discussion-on-the-alleged-us-intelligence-activities-targeting-eu-institutions-and-member-states/

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 02.07.13: Free trade, not eavesdropping! (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/3933381-free-trade-not-eavesdropping

EUObserver, 04.07.13: MEPs slam US snooping, amid revelations France does the same http://euobserver.com/justice/120763

European Parliament: Press Release, 04.07.13: Parliament to launch in-depth inquiry into US surveillance programmes http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pressroom/content/20130701IPR14770/

Deutsche Welle, 04.07.13: EU threatens end to US data deals over Snowden revelations http://dw.de/p/192P2

BBC News, 08.07.13: Transatlantic trade talks set to open amid tensions http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23221503

Gazeta Wyborcza / Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 08.07.13: Snowden implicates European secret services (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief/3949931-snowden-implicates-european-secret-services

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