D66
"Europeanen hebben het recht te weten of de Amerikanen zich aan de
afspraken houden, en of hun persoonsgegevens voldoende zijn
beschermd". Sophie in 't Veld is zeer verontwaardigd over de
geheimhouding van het Evaluatierapport over de EU-VS overeenkomst
aangaande de overdracht van passagiersgegevens. "Wij maken ons al lang
zorgen over misbruik van de gegevens, onzorgvuldigheid met betrekking
tot privacy bescherming en vooral of deze maatregelen hun doel -
grotere veiligheid - wel bereiken. Geheimhouding van het document
lijkt onze kritiek en zorgen alleen maar te bevestigen". In 't Veld
heeft fel geprotesteerd tegen de geheimhouding: "Ik krijg sterk de
indruk dat de enige reden is dat de VS bang zijn voor kritiek als
blijkt dat ze de afspraken niet nakomen".
Sinds 2004 eisen de VS dat gedetailleerde gegevens over passagiers
naar de VS worden overgelegd door de luchtvaartmaatschappijen, zoals
telefoonnummer, credit card nummer of maaltijdvoorkeuren. De Europese
Commissie en de VS sloten een overeenkomst over o.m. de garanties voor
de bescherming van de persoonsgegevens van EU burgers. Het Europees
Parlement vond de garanties volstrekt onvoldoende, en vocht de
overeenkomst aan voor het Europese Hof voor Justitie. De uitspraak
wordt zeer binnenkort verwacht.
Het rapport, afgelopen maandag gepresenteerd door Eurocommissaris
Frattini, wordt op verzoek van de Amerikanen geheim gehouden. Op
initiatief van In 't Veld hebben leden van de ALDE fractie een open
brief gestuurd aan Michael Chertoff, de hoogste baas van het VS
Department of Homeland Security, waarin hij dringend wordt opgeroepen
om toestemming te geven het document openbaar te maken. In 't Veld:
"in een democratie moeten we nooit of te nimmer bang zijn voor
openbaarheid en kritiek".
Brief
To Mr Michael Chertoff
Secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security
C.c. Mr Boyden Gray, US Ambassador to the EU
Dear Sir,
The United States and the European Union are united in their efforts
to ensure a free, democratic and safe world for their citizens. In
recent years security measures aiming to protect our citizens from
terrorist attacks have been stepped up considerably in the face of
growing threats. But ultimately, a democratic, open society is the
best defense against extremism, hatred and violence. Conversely, any
undue restrictions of our freedom, unjustified encroachment upon our
civil liberties, undermining of the rule of law, or curtailing of
democratic rights can be considered a victory for the terrorists.
Against this backdrop, we want to express our deep concern over the
confidential treatment, requested by the DHS, of the evaluation of the
US-EU agreement on Passenger Name Records. Since 2004 the US require
all airline companies to submit Passenger Name Records of all
passengers. The aforementioned agreement covers - amongst other things
- undertakings regarding the protection of personal data of EU
citizens. You may remember that the European Parliament has strong
reservations as to the adequacy of those undertakings. As the elected
representatives of the European citizens, we are naturally concerned
to see their personal data adequately protected by the US authorities,
as well as adequate means for redress in case of non compliance on the
side of the US.
The joint evaluation of the implementation of the agreement was
presented to the European Parliament on March 13th, in an in camera
session. In September of last year, many elements of the evaluation
were presented to us orally by the European Commission during a public
session. The (somewhat critical) internal evaluation done by the
Privacy Officer of your Department, was included in our deliberations.
The final European Commission evaluation document is classified, at
the request of the US. However, in view of the above, we feel that our
citizens have a right to know if their personal data are safe with the
US authorities, if the PNR scheme is effective from a security point
of view (i.e.: if it has demonstrably led to greater security) and if
both parties fully comply with the undertakings in the agreement.
Citizens have a right to scrutinise their administration. By insisting
on the confidentiality of this document, the impression is given that
there is something to hide. It will create fears and suspicions
amongst our people. In the current climate of insecurity and fear, it
is vital that people can fully trust their politicians.
If we have confidence in the strength and vitality of our own
democracies, we do not need to fear debate and criticism. Secrecy does
not protect us, quite the contrary: it weakens our democracies.
Therefore we wholeheartedly endorse the request of the European
Commission for public access to the document. By way of this open
letter we urge you to make the evaluation available for public
scrutiny, in the name of democracy, transparency and freedom. In the
name of our shared values and good cooperation based on mutual trust.
Such a gesture would go some way to addressing the concerns that a
majority of European parliamentarians have on this matter and
improving relations between our respective institutions.
Sophie in 't Veld, Sarah Ludford, Alexander Alvaro, Jeanine
Hennis-Plasschaert
Members of the European Parliament
15-3-2006 15:37