News Release by MEPs Jean Lambert and Caroline Lucas,

The UK Greens in the European Parliament

12pm, Wednesday 5th September 2001

ECHELON - WHAT NOW FOR THE UK?

" The UK must disengage from the ECHELON system" said Green Party MEP Jean Lambert after the European Parliament's debate on the report from its Temporary Committee of Enquiry on the global interception system."It is quite clear that it breaches the Human Rights Convention and fails to offer necessary safeguards to individuals. What does the UK get out of it that means it is prepared to behave in this way?"

Both the UK Green MEPs voted against the report. While welcoming the fact that the existence of Echelon has finally been acknowledged, as has the need for more transparent international agreements, "we are frustrated that it fails to draw any political conclusions" says Caroline Lucas MEP. "In particular, we wanted to see a clear demand that the UK and Germany cancel all authorisations for communications interception operations by US intelligence services on their territory".

And what are the implications for individuals of these systems? "People should not be forced to live under the permanent threat that every communication they make is listened to", says Caroline Lucas. The report focuses primarily on threats to European industrial competition, she comments, while "the real issue is lost - the threat posed by Echelon to citizens' right to privacy. Since this report fails to address the implications of Echelon for human rights and civil liberties, our group cannot accept it".

Jean Lambert adds that "there is a calm acceptance in this report that the EU must run its own intelligence system as part of the CFSP. But is a more restrictive state what we must pay for a CFSP?" This year's controversy over access to documents is just one sign, she says, that "the CFSP threatens to poison freedoms such as open access to information and personal privacy. This report simply reinforces the unacceptable view that in the name of state security any citizens' rights can be swiftly denied. "

For further details contact Steve Rackett: Tel: +44 20 7407 6280/+44 7759 962 584, Email: press@greenmeps.org.uk