Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-10-23-Speech-3-174"
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"en.20021023.4.3-174"2
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"Madam President, with his wise concluding words, Mr Vitorino has not only rounded off the previous debate in the best possible way but has actually also paved the way for the debate we are now to have. It is well over a year since the European Parliament adopted a decision on the existence of a global system for intercepting private and commercial communications – what is known as the Echelon interception system. The decision states that there is no longer any doubt about the existence of a worldwide system for intercepting communications. The decision was based upon a report from the Temporary Committee on the Echelon Interception System. The report drew attention to a number of arrangements for protecting private individuals and enterprises in the EU. In my view, this is a very comprehensive and commendable piece of work. The report has done a lot to contribute to there having been particular awareness of this area in the EU, the Member States and the national parliaments. As a Member of the European Parliament, I had the pleasure of participating in one of the hearings held by the Committee.
The focus that there has been on the ability to intercept communications with a view to obtaining commercial advantages has also helped the people of Europe and European companies to appreciate the need to protect communications.
In connection with Parliament’s reading of the report, the then Belgian Presidency’s contribution dealt with the basic principles that ought to apply to any interception system. In this context, the Presidency referred, for example, to the central principles for protecting privacy and the right to free communication, expressed in Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Article 7 of the European Union’s Charter.
I should like to refer to what the then Belgian Presidency said about the matter. My approach will be a different one. In my capacity as representative of the Presidency of the Council, I want to focus on the protection of our communications. Unfortunately, we must of course take account of the fact that technological development has, to a much greater extent than previously, made it technically possible to intercept our communications. Unlawful interception of private communications or the surveillance of companies for the purpose of distorting competition is naturally unacceptable and a serious offence, and it is therefore important for the Member States, both individually and in a European context, to be aware of the possibility of this form of surveillance and to go on working to achieve the best possible protection of people’s and companies’ communications.
Work is already being done in an EU context to increase the security of communications for the individual. This has most recently found expression in the Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 July 2002 concerning the processing of personal data and the protection of privacy in the electronic communications sector. It is the Presidency’s view that, over and above this, efforts should be made to obtain an increased use of encryption, just as there should be a focus upon IT security, both in the EU institutions and in the nation states.
IT security is a top priority in the common European action plan, ‘
Europe 2005’, which covers, for example, the development of secure communications used for the secure exchange of qualified public information within the Community. The action plan is also aimed at promoting a security culture in all areas in which work is done on developing and using information and communications systems. Finally, the action plan also includes the establishment of a Cyber Security Task Force which, in cooperation with the Member States and the private sector, is to operate as a catalyst for initiatives in the security area.
The Danish Presidency believes it is important for the initiatives in the ‘
Europe 2005’ action plan to be put into practice. Allow me to note in conclusion that the Presidency would also like to work towards a Council resolution’s being adopted, aimed at establishing a common strategy for network and information security with a view to establishing a common European security culture. The proposal for a resolution calls, for example, upon the Member States to ensure that IT security becomes an essential feature of the individual countries’ rules, just as the Member States should adopt satisfactory measures to prevent and respond to events involving security.
Finally, the proposal calls upon the Member States to encourage partnership between the university world and companies, with a view to bringing about secure technology and maintenance."@en1
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