EU Considers Sanctions Against the US Because Of Surveillance

European Parliament might not approve the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, unless the US National Security Agency (NSA) stops the mass surveillance. 

On Wednesday the MEPs voted a resolution in which they set out their findings and recommendations to boost EU citizens' privacy, after a six-month inquiry in NSA's mass surveillance schemes. The resolution was backed by 544 votes to 78, with 60 abstentions.

„Parliament's should withhold its consent to the final Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership deal with the US unless it fully respects EU fundamental rights,“ said the the resolution, adding that data protection should be ruled out of the trade talks. This consent “could be endangered as long as blanket mass surveillance activities and the interception of communications in EU institutions and diplomatic representations are not fully stopped," notes the text.

The text also calls on the EU to suspend its bank data deal with the US and the “Safe Harbour agreement” on data privacy.

„The fight against terrorism can never justify secret and illegal mass surveillance,“ the resolution said.

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