EU-DIGEST

Kennedy shot dead in Dallas

Remembering November 22, 1963 - The President of the United States has been assassinated by a gunman in Dallas, Texas. John F Kennedy was hit in the head and throat when three shots were fired at his open-topped car.Dallas Times Herald photographer Bob Jackson was in the motorcade close behind the Democrat leader's car and heard the shots as it entered Dealey Plaza. "As I looked up I saw a rifle being pulled back from a window - it might have been resting on the windowsill - I didn't see a man," he said.The president was alive when he was admitted, but died at 1400 local time (1900 GMT) - 35 minutes after being shot.

Note EU-Digest: "There are crazy and fanatic people out there and it pays more than ever to be vigilant".

Labels: Barack Obama, John F.Kennedy, security, US Secret Service, USA

EU must improve energy securit says EC report

The European Union must improve the security of its energy supplies with offshore wind turbines and gas pipelines to the Caspian region, according to a European Commission report. The 27-nation EU currently meets 54 percent of its energy needs with imports and its dependence on foreign sources has no chance of changing any time soon, according to a report the commission is to publish on Thursday.The report, obtained by AFP, singled out the EU's dependence on foreign gas as a particular cause of concern, with 61 percent of supplies coming from outside the bloc. Although the EU has a diverse range of gas suppliers including Russia, Norway, Algeria and other countries, some member states are particularly dependent on one supplier, as is the case with the Baltic countries and Russia.

Labels: Energy, EU, security

EU FMs to finalize plans for establishing co-op with U.S

Foreign ministers of the European Union members are to gather today, on the eve of the U.S. presidential elections, for an informal meeting to finalize their plans for establishing a balanced and closer cooperation with the United States. At the Informal Meeting of Foreign Ministers (Gymnich) in the southern France city of Avignon two months ago, the ministers had discussed how the EU could enhance political dialogue with the United States to carry more weight in the resolution of regional crises and to intensify transatlantic cooperation for dealing with major global challenges. Javier Solana, Secretary-General of the EU Council and High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, together with Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the European Commissioner for External Relations, will attend the one-day meeting.

Note EU-Digest: "we can only hope the EU will look at their relationship with the US in a more objective way. As it stands now the US in dealing with the EU has gotten their way in most areas, including those on issues of security, privacy, and transportation. A recent agreement between the EU and the US has resulted in EU citizens privacy rights being compromised. One of the reason's for this lopsided relationship in favor of the US is that the US usually deals with each individual EU member state on a bi-lateral level instead of dealing with the EU as one body.

It also seems a futile and costly exercise for the EU to participate in the G20 conference later this month, presided over by a lame duck US government. A new US Administration, whichever candidate wins the presidential election will want to have their say in these deliberations. Even though the winner of that contest will be known at the time of the planned G20 meeting, there can only be one President of the US at a time, and that President will still be Mr. Bush. The new Administration will be in office on January 20 and it would make far more sense to to wait until after that date to hold the G20 meeting soon thereafter".

Labels: Citizens Privacy Rights, EU, G20. World Economy, Privacy Laws, security, US

European Lawmaker Sues U.S. Agencies to Obtain Travel-Related and Other Personal Information

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) filed suit on behalf of a member of the European Parliament today, demanding that the U.S. government release records about her "risk assessment" score and other information gathered about her during her international travels. The lawsuit comes just days after the disclosure that the U.S. and the European Union may soon finalize an agreement authorizing the transatlantic exchange of large amounts of personal data. Sophia In 't Veld represents the Netherlands in the European Parliament and serves on the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice, and Home Affairs. She has been actively engaged in developing policies concerning the exchange of travelers' data between the U.S. and the European Union (EU).

During the ongoing and contentious debates between the U.S. and the EU over travelers' records and the privacy rights of EU citizens, the U.S. government has repeatedly claimed that any person can obtain her records through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. To test those assurances, In 't Veld filed FOIA requests with the Homeland Security, Justice, and State Departments, asking for any information about her that is included in the various U.S. programs and systems used to track international travelers. However, the agencies have failed to comply with the requests as required by federal law.

"Ms. In 't Veld's experience shows the inaccuracy of U.S. assurances that EU citizens can gain easy access to personal information held in agency databases," said EFF Senior Counsel David Sobel. "The truth is that it is virtually impossible for any individuals --even U.S. citizens -- to access information about themselves that is collected and maintained by American security agencies. It's important that EU officials and citizens understand the reality of the situation before moving forward with a sweeping agreement on the exchange of sensitive personal data." This FOIA lawsuit is part of EFF's ongoing work to protect travelers from privacy-invasive programs at the U.S. border. EFF has also filed suit against DHS for denying access to public records on the questioning and searches of travelers at U.S. borders and called on Congress to investigate the random, suspicionless searches of laptops and electronic devices.

Labels: Citizens Privacy Rights, EU, Personal Data, security, US

EU security agency calls for breach notification law - by Tom Young

The European Union's (EU) online security body is calling for a continent-wide law requiring firms to notify customers of data security breaches. Internet security is vital to the EU's economy, says the European Network and Information Security Agency (Enisa) in a report. Andrea Pirotti, executive director of Enisa, said the EU should adopt a US-style notification law. "Enisa calls for the EU to introduce mandatory reporting on security breaches and incidents for business, just as the US has already done," he said.

Labels: EU, Internet, security

European Parliament criticises US Visa Talks

MEPs have strongly criticized both Washington and the go-it-alone attitude of several member states for opening bilateral talks on tightened travel security measures in return for visa-free travel. "We express our regret at Washington's choice to enter into bilateral agreements with the recent members of the EU," Italian MEP Claudio Fava, speaking on behalf of the socialists in the European Parliament, said on Wednesday (23 April), describing the move as "completely unacceptable"."The US must respect the union's political unity. We should also remind this to member states," Mr Fava added. A similar message was echoed by conservatives, the parliament's biggest group, with Polish MEP Urszula Gacek saying that Washington "cannot exert pressure on individual nations to break EU guidelines, especially in the sensitive areas such as revealing passenger information in greater detail than the EU allows".

Note EU-Digest: The US must be made to understand in clear terms to refrain from bilateral talks with individual EU member states and the members states which are participating in such negotiations should be threatened with sanctions.

Labels: EU, security, US

Wiretapping US: House approves Democratic surveillance bill that denies immunity to companies for spying on Public on behalf of US Government

A terror surveillance bill that President Bush has promised to veto is on its way to the Senate. The House bill approved this afternoon doesn't grant immunity to telecommunications companies that helped the government spy on Americans after September 11th without warrants. The Senate has passed its own version, and it includes that immunity. Bush says the companies shouldn't be punished for helping the government, and that he'd veto the version approved by the House. The majority say a judge should decide if laws were broken. About 40 lawsuits are pending before a single federal judge in California. Telecommunications companies are being sued by people and organizations alleging the companies violated wiretapping and privacy laws.

In Europe the fact is that in most of the countries there wiretapping is still de rigueur—practiced more regularly and with less oversight than in the United States. Most Europeans either don't know about this or, more likely, simply don't care. The extensive European taps are not new developments, made in the heat of passion after the London and Madrid bombings. European governments have been bugging phones for decades.

Recently Prime Minister Gordon Brown in Britain gave the green light for wiretap evidence to be used in court cases, "provided strict conditions" are met. The move would end an unusual culture of secrecy surrounding telephone taps in Britain, one of the few countries where secret tapings are not used to secure convictions.

In theory, the European Convention on Human Rights forbids "arbitrary wiretapping," but, as we've learned in the United States, "arbitrary" is in the ear of the wiretapper. In this case credit must be given to the US House of Representatives for attacking the Bush Administrations infringement on the citizens right to privacy while the EU Parliament is backing away from tackling the problem.

Labels: EU, Europe, Human Rights, security, US Congress, Wiretapping

EU unity at stake over US visa-regime issue, Brussels warns - by Renata Goldirova

The European Commission is stepping up pressure on those EU governments eager to sign up to a Washington-sponsored set of air security measures in exchange for visa-free travel to the US by saying "no member state will be allowed to violate EU legislation."

"We will be negotiating with the United States," EU home affairs commissioner Franco Frattini said on Monday (10 March), adding: "It is simply not possible to abandon, to renounce our EU legislation and our common criteria." "We should not allow ourselves be divided," Mr Frattini said, adding: "I do not question the right of EU member states to engage in bilateral negotiations on issues that are national prerogative." But he noted that the commission believes: "what the US is asking raises serious legal and political questions." A similar message came from some quarters in the European Parliament. "We should not fall for the US divide and rule tactics ... and the US should act as a loyal and reliable ally and respect EU law," said Dutch liberal Sophia in't Veld.

Note EU-Digest: Again the EU is experiencing problems coming from members out of the former Eastern Communist bloc countries. Its time to do something about this. These members must be made to understand very clearly that EU membership is a two way street and that loyalty to the common good of all the EU members stands above supporting US interests. If once again the majority of EU accepts these kinds of bilateral actions by a minority of its members, they will only become bolder in their actions. Worst of all it will harm the effectiveness of the EU to operate as a cohesive unit on the international scene.

Labels: EU, security, US

EU Plans Biometric Border Controls - by Renata Goldirova

The European Commission on Wednesday (13 February) kicked off a lengthy legislative process aimed at tightening up controls on who enters and leaves the 27-nation bloc. "This package designs a completely new way of controlling our borders", EU home affairs commissioner Franco Frattini said unveiling the three new proposals. They include an entry/exit register of non-European visitors, a European Border Surveillance System designed to detect those who enter the bloc between border crossing points as well as better use of the EU's border control agency, Frontex.

Labels: EU, security

Fewer European overseas tourists visit US

The number of overseas tourists visiting the United States declined last year, serving as yet another indication that the slowing of the world economy, coupled with high oil prices, is also hurting the travel industry. The US Department of Commerce made public key figures earlier today that suggest a noticeable drop in the number of overseas visitors to America. Most conservative estimates indicate that the number of tourists arriving on long-haul flights decreased by about 11 percent last year, when compared with figures from 2000. The Travel Industry Association (TIA) also contends that the number of overseas visitors is likely to continue to decline, at least over the short-term. The drop in European tourists to the US, however, is somewhat surprising, considering the fact that these visitors can take advantage of very beneficial exchange rates, since in 2007 the US dollar lost a significant amount of its value against both the euro and the British Pound. This exchange rate has made travel to the US much cheaper for Europeans, but trips to Europe far more costly for American citizens.

In concrete numbers, the US saw approximately 10 million fewer tourists last year than what had been expected. Note EU-Digest: Another reason for this drop in tourism to the US from overseas is the increased red-tape related to what seem to be unnecessary US security measures. For instance, transit passengers arriving at a US airport of entry who need to transfer to an ongoing flight have to go through the "belts and shoes off" screening procedure again, even though they or their luggage have not gone out of a secured area.

Labels: EU, security, Terrorism, Tourism, US

EU unity to be tested over US visa-free regime - by Renata Goldirova

EU interior ministers are gathering in Brussels for what is likely to be a heated battle over how the European Union should react to new US travel security demands, with member states split between those who enjoy visa-free travel to the United States and those who do not.

But member states' diplomats, preparing the Thursday ministerial meeting, have failed to unite over a draft common position, as it suggested EU states should refrain from bilateral negotiations, sources told EUobserver. The commission has also distributed its own proposal of an EU-US memorandum of understanding, but this is also unlikely to fly. The debate has revealed deep divisions between EU states, with those who enjoy visa-free travel to the US on the one side and most of the rest of the bloc on the other side. Ireland was standing in the middle, one diplomat said.

Labels: EU, security, US

EU-Brussels attacks new US security demands

The European Commission has poured cold water on a set of security requirements recently tabled by Washington, describing the move as "unacceptable" and going "too far". "The text is unacceptable. It's just way beyond anything that can be done," Jonathan Faull, the head of the commission's home affairs department, said on Wednesday (13 February), referring to a US-proposed memorandum of understanding distributed to EU capitals.Brussels has made it clear that it dislikes being a passive observer of the ongoing process, with Washington discussing the new measures bilaterally with each EU government. "We don't negotiate matters which are dealt with in Washington with the state of California - that would be disrespectful and we expect the US to be similarly respectful of our law and system here," Mr Faull told journalists. "The USA knows perfectly well that there some things you come to Brussels to talk about," he stressed, pointing to the passenger name records (PNR) deal between the United States and the European Union as a whole.

Note EU-Digest: this is another example for the need of EU member states to have one voice when dealing with the rest of the world.

Labels: EU, European Unity, security, US

Canada, Greece and Romania have best privacy records, report says - Privacy in the United States and European Union in danger

Individual privacy is best protected in Canada but is under threat in the United States and the European Union as governments introduce sweeping surveillance and information-gathering measures in the name of security and border control, an international rights group said in a report released Saturday. Canada, Greece and Romania had the best privacy records of 47 countries surveyed by London-based watchdog Privacy International. Malaysia, Russia and China were ranked worst. Both Britain and the United States fell into the lowest-performing group of "endemic surveillance societies. There is also the danger of the increasing number of security programs involving the United States, which has no federal privacy law. Under the pretext of heightened national security concerns very sensitive personal and private information is now flowing across borders and oceans to the United States in increasing volumes without the approval of the citizens and in violation of privacy laws. Governments should put pressure on the U.S. government to protect that information legally, but they are not doing so. Also the growing business appetite for personal information and technological advances are all potent - and growing - threats to privacy rights.

The report said privacy protection was worsening across western Europe, although it was improving in some of the former Communist states of eastern Europe.The report also noted the trends "have been fueled by the emergency of a profitable surveillance industry dominated by global IT companies and the creation of numerous international treaties that frequently operate outside judicial or democratic processes." The report was carried out by the London-based watchdog Privacy International and covered 47 countries.

Labels: Citizens Privacy Rights, EU, Privacy Laws, security

EU states clash with MEPs over new security measures - by Renata Goldirova

The European Union has failed to strike a deal on common aircraft security measures, including the idea of having armed sky marshals on flights across the 27-nation bloc. "There is a deadlock", German centre-right MEP Georg Jarzembowski, negotiating on the parliament's behalf, told EUobserver after the first round of conciliatory talks. He added that "the council is not really moving to take any responsibility" for the costs of security measures. According to the European Parliament, the costs should be shared by passengers and member states, but if a government wants to impose even more stringent measures, it should cover the whole bill.

The council however says all costs should be borne by the airlines industry, which would almost certainly pass the extra burden on to passengers.Similarly, EU states are reluctant to grant MEPs a say over the technical implementation of the new rules - something that would have a great impact on whether those rules would be limited in scope or duration. For example, the parliament requires that security measures, such as the ban on carrying liquids on board, should expire after 18 months, unless a thorough re-evaluation of the security risks means they are needed. MEPs also suggest strict oversight of in-flight security officers known as sky marshals. They should be well-trained, have specific authorization to carry weapons and no country should be obliged to accept them, unless the competent national security authorities consider it necessary.

Note EU-Digest: the EU parliament is absolutely right in making sure that these security measures do not infringe on member states privacy of information laws and that they have a limited time frame of staying in force.

Labels: EU, EU Parliament, security

Will the real Ben Laden Stand-up - Fake Ben Laden from Australian Comedy Show Gets Through APEC Security to within one block from Bush hotel

"A satirical Australian TV show, The Chaser's War on Everything, staged a fake motorcade through the streets of Sydney. Many world leaders, including President Bush, are in Sydney for this week's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting. So there is a lot of security, about $250 million worth. But the fake motorcade of three cars and two motorcycles made it through two official checkpoints. The convoy was eventually pulled over about a block from Bush's hotel, apparently when the comics tried to turn around.

Here's the best part: One of the people in the motorcade was dressed to look like Osama bin Laden. Note EU-Digest: If a comedian dressed up like Ben Laden was able to get through tight US and Australian security and come to within one block of President Bush his hotel, it might be time for Ben Laden to dress up like a comedian and appear on the "Good Morning America" show. It would certainly be an improvement on his own bad quality video's, which we are forced to watch on a regular basis.

Labels: security, US

EU, US sign passenger data sharing deal - by Paul Meller

Critics of last week's agreement allowing European passengers' personal data to be shared with U.S. authorities have just under a month to reshape the accord before it comes into force, said Stavros Lambrinidis, vice president of the European Parliament's civil liberties committee Monday.

"There is a battle to make this agreement respectful of European citizens' civil liberties, and it's not over," he said in a telephone interview. The European Parliament has no direct say in the shaping of an agreement that will give U.S. customs, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other agencies including the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency free access to airlines' passenger databases to help them prevent potential terrorist attacks.

However, some national parliaments will get the chance. "There are about six or seven countries that have to debate this agreement. There is still a chance to change it," Lambrinidis said. In an interview last week, Europe's data protection supervisor, Peter Hustinx, said his main concern was that the E.U. would grant American agencies the right to pull up information about Europeans whenever they want.

The main concern, however, is that the agreement omits any binding undertakings for U.S. authorities to safeguard European citizens' data. The details of this arrangement aren't in the agreement itself but in an exchange of letters that haven't been made public, Lambrinidis said. Reacting to the agreement last week, Hustinx said he fears the measure could violate European citizens' rights to privacy. In addition to allowing U.S. authorities to keep the data for 15 years, there would be "no limitation to what U.S. authorities are allowed to do with the data," Hustinx wrote in a letter to Schaeuble on Wednesday after the German minister clinched the deal.

Labels: Citizens Privacy Rights, EU, security, USA

Proposed EU-US Airline Security Agreement: EU Commission Franco Frattini gives away the store to the US - by Rick Morren

The EU unveiled new security plans recently whereby millions of air passengers could be tracked across Europe. This new proposal can only be seen as a smoke-screen by the EU Commission to cover-up their capitulation to US demands in providing European Citizen's personal information to the US for their safe-keeping, in compliance with the newly proposed EU-US Airline security agreement. This proposed agreement is in direct violation of European privacy laws.

When, and if the proposed agreement between the US and the EU passes legislation, personal data of EU Citizens can be kept by the US for 15 years. During the last eight years of that 15-year period, the information will only be available for access with the permission of a designated senior U.S. Homeland Security Department official. Not a very happy thought for Europeans, given the poor professional reputation of the US Homeland Security and certainly no guarantee that their personal data will not be used for purposes other than acts of terrorism.

Already under the present interim security accord, the US is allowed to hold personal data of European Citizens information between 3-1/2 and 11-1/2 years.

We can only hope that EU governments who have to ratify this agreement will veto it. Since this issue deals with personal information of European Citizens, it probably should even be voted on by a referendum.

In the meantime - there are far more simple ways to catch criminals and potential terrorists traveling to and from Europe. Passenger manifests can be reviewed before departure and matched with local police and security records. There is absolutely no need to forward these records, including bank and credit card information to the US. This is against the law in Europe and must not be accepted in any way or form. Mr. Franco Frattini has not served the interests of the European population by approving this EU-US security agreement.

Labels: EU, security, US

Security fears restrict U.S. diplomats - by Matthew Lee

Threatened abroad, U.S. diplomats have been hit with unprecedented security restrictions, confining many to fortress-like compounds and frustrating Bush administration efforts to get out and counter anti-U.S. sentiment. Outside of areas where radical Islam is considered the main threat, travel restrictions for U.S. diplomats are in place in Burundi, Colombia, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Haiti, India, Laos, Nepal, Peru, Serbia, Sri Lanka, Uganda and Venezuela. Many of those countries are beset by internal strife. Curbs on U.S. official movement are most restrictive in Afghanistan and Iraq, where diplomats are barely able to leave their offices."

Labels: security, USA

Labels: EU, security

U.S. Reaches Tentative Deal With Europe on Bank Data - by James Risen

A new agreement between the Bush administration and the European Union will allow the United States government to continue a once secret program to obtain banking records from a Brussels-based consortium for use in counterterrorism investigations, American and European officials said Thursday.

In the deal, announced by the European Union late Wednesday, the Bush administration has agreed to impose new privacy safeguards on the program, which gives the Treasury Department and the Central Intelligence Agency access to one of the global banking system’s most important conduits of international financial records. In one provision of the agreement, the United States has agreed that it will keep the banking data collected under the program for only five years, officials said.

Labels: EU, security, USA

European Union Calls For Rules To Safeguard Data - by Madhu Unnikrishnan

A proposal that airlines collect fingerprints to comply with the U.S.-Visit program is an alarming prospect to most Europeans, a senior European Union official tells The DAILY. >Surrendering biometric data such as fingerprints to travel to the U.S. is not the issue, Telmo Baltazar, EU Justice and Home Affairs counselor, said. Instead, European officials worry that private companies, such as airlines, may have the authority to collect sensitive information. "Europeans find it difficult to accept that a government function is being used by airlines," he said.

Labels: EU, security, USA

Turkey's Erdogan warns the EU: Make your decision, don't wear yourselves out

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has made some sharp comments in reference to the EU's stance on Turkey's quest for full membership, saying yesterday before his ruling AKP group in Ankara, "Don't wear yourselves or us out. If you have some thoughts, make some decisions on them, and let us all continue down our roads."

Erdogan also noted "The EU is on a serious search for solutions to problems such as security, energy, expansion, and an ageing population. In fact, Turkey is in a key role in terms of being able to help the EU with these problems. We know that there have been many difficulties down this road, and that there will continue to be these difficulties. But just as we have managed to obtain our rights up until today, we will continue in the same way from now on. We are not expecting favors from anyone. We simply want whatever we have a right to. If the EU thinks negatively about Turkey, it needs to make its decision, and we will continue on our way."

Labels: Energy, EU, Integration, Political, security, Turkey

Britain is the Largest Exporter of Terrorism in the Non-Muslim World'

Faced with instances of terrorist activities, one cannot help but place Britain, alongside Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Egypt, Algeria, etc. at the top of the list of countries that regularly export terrorists to the rest of the world. The basic difference is that the Islamists in Britain enjoy the protection of the law and the sympathy of many political figures in Britain - or at least their activities and their presence do not present any problem for these political figures.

Everyone talks about Islamic terror, but they studiedly avoid talking about the Western states' terror and its being a factor that fosters extremism.'The truth is that these wild, frightful acts [perpetrated by the West]… which are broadcast on TV stations and over the Internet, have a much greater influence in pushing people to extremism than any quantity of religious exhortations.'

Labels: security

Europe’s Plan to Track Phone and Net Use - by VICTORIA SHANNON

European governments are preparing legislation to require companies to keep detailed data about people’s Internet and phone use that goes beyond what the countries will be required to do under a European Union directive. In Germany, a proposal from the Ministry of Justice would essentially prohibit using false information to create an e-mail account, making the standard Internet practice of creating accounts with pseudonyms illegal.

A draft law in the Netherlands would likewise go further than the European Union requires, in this case by requiring phone companies to save records of a caller’s precise location during an entire mobile phone conversation.European Union countries have until 2009 to put the Data Retention Directive into law, so the proposals seen now are early interpretations. But some people involved in the issue are concerned about a shift in policy in Europe, which has long been a defender of individuals’ privacy rights.

Labels: security