DT\437638EN.doc
PE 300.153
EN
EN
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
1999
«
«««
«
«
«
«
«
«
«
«
2004
Temporary Committee on the ECHELON Interception System
4 May 2001
WORKING DOCUMENT
in preparation for a report on the existence of a global system for intercepting
private and commercial communications (ECHELON interception system)
Temporary Committee on the ECHELON Interception System
Rapporteur: Gerhard Schmid
DT\437638EN.doc
2/92
PE 300.153
EN
Preface
This working document summarises the findings from the hearings in committee, private
discussions with experts and systematic consideration of the available material by the
rapporteur.
The working document forms the nucleus of the future report. It reflects the stage reached in
the hearings in mid-April. However, it will be possible to complete the report only after the
visit to the USA. Firstly, it will then be possible to incorporate the results of that visit and of
the last hearing of experts in Chapters 5 (evidence for the existence of a global interception
system) and 10 (industrial espionage). Secondly, it is intended that any additional aspects
which arise from the debate on this working document should also be dealt with in the report.
DT\437638EN.doc
3/92
PE 300.153
EN
Index:
1.
Introduction: ...............................................................................................................8
1.1.
The reasons for setting up the committee ...................................................................8
1.2.
The claims made in the two STOA studies on a global interception system
codenamed ECHELON...............................................................................................8
1.2.1.
The first STOA report of 1997....................................................................................8
1.2.2.
The 1999 STOA reports ..............................................................................................8
1.3.
The mandate of the committee ....................................................................................9