Statement by the European Commission on alleged surveillance of EU premises

1/7/2013 EU source: European Commission Ref: EC13-118EN

Summary: 1 July 2013, Brussels - Statement by the European Commission on alleged surveillance of EU premises

These are disturbing news if proven true. They demand full clarification.

As soon as the media reports about alleged spying and eavesdropping on EU premises and delegations were made known, the Commission asked the European External Action Service to immediately raise the matter with the US authorities in Washington DC and in Brussels to verify the veracity of these reports.

Baroness Ashton, High Representative and Vice- President of the Commission, who has competence on these issues as they concern external relations matters relevant for both the EU institutions and its MS, issued a statement already yesterday, and has since spoken to Secretary of State Kerry directly.

The EU is now expecting to hear from the US authorities. Clarity and transparency is what we expect from partners and allies, and this is what we expect from the US.