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Deutsch: Zwei Jahre Stockholm Programm: Europa auf dem Weg zu einer elektronisc...
It has been two years now since the Stockholm Programme - a 5-year plan for Justice and Home Affairs - was adopted. On 24 November 2011, an experts' and activists' round table, organised in the European Parliament, raised the question whether Europe was on its way to an e-Fortress. The discussions focused on the proposal for so-called smart borders, the processing of air passenger data (PNR) and the creation of a European Border Surveillance System (EUROSUR).
With the introduction of smart borders, the European Commission aims at implementing more effective border surveillance against "irregular migration" by the use of drone planes, satellite and surveillance systems, unmanned ground or marine vehicles and even combat robots. EUROSUR is a further attempt by the European Commission to reduce the number of illegal immigrants entering the European Union, to develop common tools and instruments for Member States and to permit an EU-wide exchange of data. A legislative proposal is expected to be published by the Commission around 7 December 2011.
Sergio Carrera, first speaker of the round table and senior research fellow at the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), criticised the current policy making in the field of security saying that it was not evidence based and that debates on necessity were non-existent, thus fundamental rights always play a secondary role. During the development of every new project, the presumption of innocence, the consent of individuals and the principle of non-discrimination are rarely taken into account. He doubted that the gaps of Frontex could be closed by EUROSUR.
Owe Langfeldt and Gabriel Blaj from the EDPS stressed the importance that the Commission should provide clear proof that future security policy measures were necessary and effective after their implementation. They also warned of a function creep, called for clear purpose limitation and criticised that through the introduction of profiling, for example via PNR agreements, a generalised suspicion was laid upon society. Blaj added that the subgroup on borders and law enforcement of the Article 29 Working Group has recently decided to react on the proposals by the Commission.
Erich Töpfer's (Cilip & Statewatch) short input focused on the corporate interest in the field of security policy and on the fact that border and security measures involve a powerful security-industry complex. Detailed information can be found in "Arming Big Brother" analysis and in a report for the Transnational Institute which explains how most of the European security research projects have been outsourced to the corporations that have the most to gain from their implementation and examines the EU security-industrial complex.
An open debate followed the short presentations during which the participants of the round table discussed future activities, possible arguments, cooperation and initiatives. The debate centred on useful arguments to counter those in favor of the introduction of more surveillance measures. The participants agreed on the necessity of an evaluation of existing systems, of impact and cost assessments. Highlighting the export of Western surveillance technologies to the Middle East was suggested, in order to name and shame companies. At the same time, It is crucial for civil society to provide MEPs with counter-facts (regarding EU-PNR for instance).
Tony Bunyan, Director of Statewatch, summarized the debated issues at the end of the event. He pointed out that a very first proposal for EU-PNR already collapsed in 2007 when the European Parliament opposed it. Now, the Parliament and the Commission only needed to be reminded of their own history. However, Bunyan also emphasized the necessity of campaigns outside the Parliament, from the "ground", which would be far more effective than those that focus on winning a majority in the EP only.
European Commission Communication: Smart Border - options and the way ahead
(25.11.2011)
http://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/news/intro/docs/20111025/20111025-680...
Statewatch Analysis: Arming Big Brother
http://www.statewatch.org/analyses/bigbrother.pdf
Transnational Institute : NeoConOpticon Report, The EU
Security-Industrial Complex
http://www.statewatch.org/analyses/neoconopticon-report.pdf
Programme of the event: Two Years into the Stockholm Programme - on the
way to e-Fortress Europe? (24.11.2011)
http://www.ska-keller.de/images/stories/files/roundtable_e-fortress-eu...
(Contribution by Kirsten Fiedler - EDRi)