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- Ελληνικά
Thursday, 12 October 2023
Intervention by MP George Loukaidis on the Pegasus surveillance system and other similar spying systems at the Plenary of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
The work of the 4th part of the session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) continues in Strasbourg. George Loucaides, in his intervention during the plenary debate on the Pegasus surveillance system and similar surveillance and espionage software systems, made special mention of journalists, whistleblowers and representatives of non-governmental organisations, who were the first to reveal the very serious consequences for the rule of law and human rights of the use of such systems. He deplored the fact that the international community and European institutions have so far not shown the necessary will to investigate the whole issue and address the serious violations of communications privacy and other fundamental human rights involved.
Regarding the interconnection of Cyprus with the use and export of the Pegasus system, Mr. Loucaides said that, according to the findings of a relevant European Parliament report, there is evidence of mismanagement also in Cyprus with regard to the implementation of the EU directive on the export of dual-use items, as well as institutional and political responsibility with regard to the control mechanisms and supervision of the production, sale and export of surveillance material.
For transparency and accountability purposes, Mr. Loucaides stressed, the competent European institutions should urgently develop the appropriate institutional framework, based on the conclusions of the PEGA Committee of the European Parliament and other reputable sources, to better protect human rights against such unacceptable and abusive practices.
(Text as sent by the House of Representatives)
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