Sarah Ludford MEP

Sarah demands assurances for data protection

3.33.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 25th Apr 2008

Sarah in the European Parliament (photography: Ludford Office)

Speaking in the European Parliament this week, Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP demanded answers from the European Council and Commission to questions over the protection of personal data in EU-wide databases.

She said:

"Mr President, I want to know if the Commission and the Council will give an assurance that the EU will not, as part of the negotiations, allow access to EU databases like the Schengen Information System and the Visa Information System (VIS). As rapporteur on the VIS, I achieved a general ban on transfers to third countries from the VIS database, and I want to know if that is threatened in any way.

"Secondly, do the Commission and Council accept that going down this blind alley of mass surveillance and collection of personal data on everybody - 99% of whom will be completely innocent - risks being a distraction from trying to catch the 0.1% who may be a terrorist danger or an organised crime suspect?

"Today, a top anti-Mafia prosecutor in Italy is warning that Mafia crime is spreading its tentacles across Europe because it is being neglected for lack of proper cross-border cooperation and criminal justice systems not working together. Is that not our top priority? And it is not being done because it is a harder nut to crack."

Bookmark this story at: del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg FacebookFacebook LibDigLibDig redditreddit StumbleUponStumbleUpon
Print this news story.
Previous news story: Serbia must deliver war criminals before EU deal (Fri 25th Apr 2008).
Next news story: Sarah tackles illegal immigration across the EU (Fri 25th Apr 2008).

Related News Stories:

Thu 28th Jan 2010:

London MEP highlights data protection rights and threats.

Wed 28th Jan 2009:

Data Protection Day means time to end 'Big Brother Britain' .

Thu 25th Sep 2008:

Sarah on combatting terrorism and protection of personal data .

Thu 26th Jun 2008:

European Commission should pursue UK over data protection failures.

Tue 26th Feb 2008:

Letter to the Daily Telegraph about data protection and civil liberties.

Tue 12th Feb 2008:

Sarah's campaign to sort out the UK's data protection problems.

Mon 28th Jan 2008:

European Data Protection Day highlights paucity of UK Information Commissioner powers.

Mon 21st Jan 2008:

EU enquiry needed into UK breaches of data protection.

Wed 10th Oct 2007:

Sarah demands better protection for the world's tigers.

Thu 7th Jun 2007:

EU data-sharing needs robust data protection.

Fri 26th Jan 2007:

Do you know your data protection rights?

Fri 24th Nov 2006:

EU data protection watchdogs condemn SWIFT .

Fri 6th Oct 2006:

Data protection and democracy sacrificed for PNR agreement.

Wed 6th Sep 2006:

EU 'feeble' on data protection.

Tue 5th Sep 2006:

Euro-MP fights for privacy protection for personal data.

Tue 29th Apr 2003:

Needed: 'robust' EU Data Protection Supervisor.

Related Speeches:

Tue 23rd Sep 2008:

Sarah speaking about protection of personal data.

Wed 7th May 2008:

Sarah speaking about safe harbor agreements for business data .

Mon 21st Apr 2008:

Sarah speaking about cross-border use of DNA data.

Tue 30th Jan 2007:

Data protection - SWIFT and PNR.

Wed 14th Jun 2006:

Data protection "essential" for EU databases.

Tue 15th Nov 2005:

Data protection and EU databases.

Mon 12th Nov 2001:

Processing of personal data and protection of privacy .

Printed and hosted by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY.
Published and promoted by Ashley Lumsden on behalf of Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP and the Liberal Democrats, all at 4 Cowley Street, London SW1P 3NB.
The views expressed are those of the party, not of the service provider.