Barroso in plenary in Strasbourg: “We expect clarity and transparency from the United States”
Swoboda (Socialists & Democrats): “Maybe we should rethink before signing the free trade agreement”
The European Union is “concerned” about the news regarding the US spying that would also concern European citizens and institutions. The President of the European Council in Brussels, speaking to the plenary in Strasbourg, confirmed that “if this news were to be proven true, it would be very disturbing and would cause serious and very important concerns.” Because of this Barroso said he “requested immediate and complete clarification from the USA.” According to what was reported by the President, Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs, has discussed this personally with the US Secretary of State, John Kerry and the Executive Secretary General of European External Action Service (EEAS), Pierre Vimont, did the same with the US Ambassador in the EU, William E. Kennard. “The Commission expects clarity and transparency from partners and allies and it is that which we expect from the United States” concluded Barroso.
On the other hand, Guy Verhofstadt, leader of Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (Alde) replied “We are not concerned; we are angry.” According to the liberal “the European Parliament must react with resolution. The ‘concern’ of the Commission and Council is not enough. We require a full explanation, not just excuses.”
US President Barack Obama tried to throw water on the fire of controversy over alleged spy activity against European allies, arguing that the intelligence services around the world usually look for additional information beyond regular media reports. The German daily newspaper Der Spiegel revealed that included in the National Security Agency’s espionage goals there would be, in addition to the EU institutions, also Italy, Germany and France. The latter threatened to block continuation of negotiations on the EU-USA free-trade treaty until full disclosure has occurred.
And even the Socialists ask to re-debate the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). The free-trade agreement “is thought to be the way in which Europe and the USA strengthen their ties but if our citizens, businesses or economies would not be protected or even spied on, then we must rethink” said Hannes Swoboda, President of S&D.
The stop on the treaty was also invoked by the left-wing group who also asked that Edward Snowden, former National Security Agency Analyst, who revealed the details of Prism, the top-secret joint mass-surveillance program of the American and British governments to the press and now a refugee in a Moscow airport and sought by Washington for espionage, be “protected by the EU and be given political asylum.”
