That is what the Vice-President of Values and Transparency of the European Commission, Vera Jourova, said at the presentation of the Community Executive’s annual report on the situation of the rule of law in the member states.
Euskaraz irakurri: Bruselak Pegasusen erabilera gaitzetsi eta gogorarazi du segurtasun nazionala ez dela “txeke zuri bat”
The Vice President for Values and Transparency of the European Commission, Vera Jourovahas called for reflection on the use of spy software Pegasus in several European countries, including Spain, to warn that the defense of national security is not a “blank cheque” and that there must be guarantees of respect for fundamental rights.
This was said during a press conference in Luxembourg the presentation of the Community Executive’s third annual report on the rule of law situation in the Member States.
For the first time, the report includes a “description of the problems” caused by the use of Pegasus in the European Union and, according to the vice president of the community, the document “states Poland, Hungary, Spain and France“, countries where the spy program has been used “against journalists, lawyers, politicians and MEPs”
In this regard, Jourova has avoided direct references to each of the cases, but emphasizes that “guarantees” must be in place to ensure that the fundamental rights of those under investigation are respected. “It’s a serious issue that needs to be considered,” he concluded.
The report on the rule of law in the countries of the European Union has a chapter on Pegasus and other spy programs in which he descriptively describes the situation in the four states indicated by the vice president of the community.
As for Spain, the document recalls that investigations are underway to clarify the use of spy software and recalls that intelligence agencies must have a court order to resort to wiretapping and other similar practices.
In any event, the Community Executive’s annual review in this chapter has avoided making specific recommendations to the indicated countries, confining itself to the requirement to ensure that institutional checks and balances are “robust” and that the of the responsible public authority is subject to the supervision of other organs of the state.
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Source: EITB
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
