EU should create own spy agency, Reding says

EU justice commissioner Viviane Reding has said the Union should create its own intelligence service by 2020.

Speaking on the 4 November 2013 to Greek daily Naftemporiki on the US snooping scandal, she said: "What we need is to strengthen Europe in this field, so we can level the playing field with our US partners."

She added: "I would therefore wish to use this occasion to negotiate an agreement on stronger secret service co-operation among the EU member states - so that we can speak with a strong common voice to the US. The NSA needs a counterweight. My long-term proposal would therefore be to set up a European Intelligence Service by 2020."

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: EU-US: The real transatlantic confidence crisis http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-us-the-real-transatlantic-confidence-crisis/

Deutsche Welle, 06.11.13: Does the EU need its own spies? http://dw.de/p/1ACL5

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