NEWS
http://www.statewatch.org/news/
1. EU: Red Cross EU: Press release: Recommendations on international protection: Press release and report
2. SPAIN: Statewatch Viewpoint: LIke imprisonment in Spain: An inhuman and unlawful punishment
3. EU: Council of the European Union: DATA PROTECTION REGULATION: Council developing its negotiating positions:
4. EU: Council of the European Union: NIS, Migratory Pressures, CT internal-external, ISS, Law Enforcement WP and CSDP missions
5. UK-AUSTRALIA: DNA sharing
6. UK: Met hold 2,000 records on journalists
7. UK: Access to Special Branch spying denied
8. EU: Member States offer political support for domestic drones
9. UK-EU: EAW: House of Lords Select Committee: Despite flaws, European Arrest Warrant provides vital extradition arrangements
10. EU: Council of the European Union: SIS II: "a central Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) integrated into the SIS II"
11. UK: Should research by academics whose institutions receive EU money be discredited?
12. EU: Council of the European Union: Presumption of Innocence & Libya: Crisis Approach
13. PROFILING: Reports from UNICR
14. EU and export controls on spyware
15. UK: MI5, MI6 & GCHQ access to lawyer-client communications
16. EU: MEDITERRANEAN: SEARCH & RESCUE
17. EU: Council of the European Union: LIMITE documents: The cost of policing football matches, GAMM Update & Migratory flows
18. European Parliament Hearing with papers
19. UN: Your rights on freedom of assembly
20. EU: DUBLIN: ECHR: Dublin system failing
21. EU: The Migrants Files on those who have died on their way to the EU
22. European Parliament Study: The immunity of MEPs
23. BERLIN WALL CROSSES TAKEN TO MELILLA
24. EU: FOREIGN FIGHTERS ROADMAP: Council of the European Union
25. UK: Violence predicting software
26. EU: WHITHER ACCOUNTABILITY FOR EU OPERATIONAL COOPERATION ON INTERNAL SECURITY?
27. UK-ECHR: House of Commons Library: UK in ECHR paper
28. EU: CHARTER of FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: Council of the European Union discussing how to comply with the Charter
29. EU: CYBER DIPLOMACY: Council of the European Union
30. PETITION: Research and the production of knowledge on migration
31. EU-PNR: Germany backs flight data retention across EU
32. EU: "Hot Returns": When the state acts outside the law
33. EU: AN EXAMPLE OF NEO-COLONIALISM? FRONTEX: Intelligence-gathering nexis
34. Islamphobia, loyalty and the treasion debate (IRR News)
35. UK: Tameside TUC's in-depth report on Blacklisting
36. UN Rapporteur: 2nd Report: freedom of asembly and multilateral institutions
37. UK-GCHQ: Eyes Wide Shut: GCHQ warrantless access to NSA data
38. GREECE-ECHR: Viewpoint: Sharifi et al v Italy and Greece
39. UK-EU: UK axes support for Med search & rescue
40. EU: Document sets out EU "concept" for military drone use
Mos Maiorum
1. UPDATE: EU: Joint Operation "Mos Maiorum" (13-26 October 2014): Statewatch Summary of coverage2. EU: Joint Police Operation: (13-26 October 2014): IMages and photos
3. EU: Joint Police Operation: "Mos Maiorum": Commentary
EU-USA: NSA-GCHQ
1. USA: Congressional Research Service (RS) reports: Whistleblowers and FISA Courts
2. GERMANY: Federal Intelligence Service (BND), Gerhard Schindler, wants to expand international cooperation of intelligence
3. DENMARK: Snowden documents show systematic British climate spying against COP 15 and COP 16
4. REMOTE ACCESS-ENCRYPTION SURVEILLANCE
5. European Parliament: ECHELON report
USING THE STATEWATCH WEBSITE
News Online
1. EU: Red Cross EU: Press release: Position paper on the Right to Access to International Protection: Recommendations of the National Red Cross Societies of the Member States of the European Union and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (Press release, pdf) See also: Position Paper: Recommendations (pdf) and Legal avenue to protection (pdf) This position paper sets forth the following six recommendations:
"1. Ensure that people fleeing Syria have access to asylum procedures in the EU
2. Consider visa applications from people fleeing Syria in a protection sensitive way
3. Facilitate family unity in Europe for people fleeing Syria.
4. Offer emergency resettlement to the most vulnerable people fleeing Syria.
5. Review refugee status determination procedures and reception conditions for people fleeing Syria.
6. Do not return people to Syria and its neighbouring countries."
2. SPAIN: Statewatch Viewpoint: Life imprisonment in Spain: An inhuman and unlawful punishment (pdf) by Julián Carlos Ríos Martín (Professor of Penal Law at the Universidad Pontificia Comillas, Madrid):
3. EU: Council of the European Union: DATA PROTECTION REGULATION: Council developing its negotiating positions:
• Public sector - Partial General approach (LIMITE doc no: 15389-14, 13.11.14, pdf): Note the following:
"The proper functioning of the internal market requires that the free movement of personal data within the Union should not be restricted or prohibited for reasons connected with the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data." [emphasis added]
• Chapter IX: Provisions relating to specific data processing situations (LIMITE doc no 15544-14, 14.11.14, pdf): With Member State positions.
• German delegation: To: Working Group on Information Exchange and Data Protection (DAPIX): Subject: General Data Protection Regulation
- Processing for purposes of social protection (LIMITE doc no: 15106-14, 5-11.14, pdf) and German delegation: Subject: General Data Protection Regulation
- Processing in the employment context (LIMITE doc no:15108-14, 5-11-114, pdf)
4. EU: Council of the European Union: NIS, Migratory Pressures, CT internal-external, ISS, Law Enforcement Working Party and CSDP missions
• NIS TRILOGUE: Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning measures to ensure a high common level of network and information security across the Union - Preparations for the 2nd informal trilogue (LIMITE doc no: 14850-14, 4-11-14, , pdf) Multi-column documents showing different positions of Commission, Council and the European Parliament
• MIGRATORY PRESSURES: EU Action on Migratory Pressures - A Strategic Response 5th Biannual Update (43 pages, LIMITE doc no: 15248-14, 10-11-14, pdf): Detailed operational plans.
• Overview of expert groups and networks related to the LEWP and the provisional planning of their meetings (LIMITE doc no: 8709-14, 3-11-14, pdf) Future plans:including: "2 Action Days in autumn 2014 (counter terrorism action day and metal/copper theft)"
• Discussion paper on further enhancing the links between internal and external aspects of counter-terrorism: strengthening the synergies between TWP and COTER (LIMITE doc no: 14081-14, 13-11-14, pdf):
"The Council Secretariat, EEAS, EU CTC, CION and IntCen should continue to highlight the relevance of specific cross-cutting topics to groups, ensuring that coordination is enhanced and duplication avoided where possible. This will also further encourage a comprehensive approach to CT in the EU, ensuring that links are made between relevant working groups, documents shared and consultation given where relevant."
• Draft Council conclusions on the development of a renewed European Union Internal Security Strategy (11 pages, LIMITE doc no 14186-rev6-14, 13-11-14, pdf):
"A European PNR is one of several important tools in this field as well as the full implementation of the Prüm decision. Interoperability of different systems, enhancing and simplifying existing tools should be ensured to allow a more efficient and proportionate exchange of information and subsequently, to enable joint operations as well as to gather evidence for prosecution. The possible introduction of a European Police Record Index System (EPRIS) could be explored. A framework, respecting fundamental rights, for swift cooperation by investigating and prosecuting authorities in access to electronic evidence across jurisdictions held by players in industry is required," [emphasis added]
• European External Action Service (EEAS): CivOpsCdr Operational Guidelines for Monitoring, Mentoring and Advising in Civilian CSDP missions (41 pages, LIMITE doc no: 15272-14, 7-11-14, pdf)
5. UK-Australia: Ministers sign agreement to share crime scene DNA (pdf): ""Australia has joined the International DNA Search Request Network (SRN), which makes it easier to check DNA from unsolved cases against profiles held in another country.... Australia will join the UK, USA and Canada in the SRN. This will give UK police access to around 20 million profiles on three continents via a secure Interpol network."
And see: Interpol Factsheet: DNA Profiling (pdf)
6. UK: Met Police anti-terrorism database holds more than 2,000 records relating to journalists (Press Gazette, link): "The Metropolitan Police holds more than 2,000 records relating to journalists and photographers on a confidential anti-extemist database, it has been reported today. The records are held by the National Domestic Extremism and Disorder Intelligence Unit, and the figure of 2,000 was released by the Met under the Freedom of Information Act."
and see: Met chief Hogan-Howe denies journalist phone records 'routinely' sought - and says he is open to judicial approval (Press Gazette, link)
7.UK: Special branch exercise their own unique right to silence on records held on former Hackney community campaign group (Fighting Talk by Mike Metcalf, link and with thanks Letter, pdf): "Please could you confirm whether the Metropolitan Police holds or has ever held:(a) a Special Branch file on Hackney Community Defence Association and/or the Colin Roach Centre, Hackney (b) a separate Special Branch file on the following campaigns coordinated by the Colin Roach Centre": Reply:
"In accordance with the Act, this letter represents a Refusal Notice for this particular request. The Metropolitan Police Service can neither confirm nor deny that it holds the information you requested as the duty in s1(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 does not apply, by virtue of the following exemptions:
Section 23(5) - Information supplied by, or concerning, certain security bodies
Section 24(2) - National Security
Section 30(3) - Criminal Investigations
Section 31(3) - Law Enforcement
Section 40(5) - Personal Information"
8. EU: Member States offer political support for domestic drones
The EU has spent years working with industry to try and pave the way for the widespread use of drones in civilian airspace, offering millions of euros for technological and regulatory research and development. Plans to allow regular flights of domestic drones of all shapes and sizes finally received formal political backing from the Member States last month, during a policy debate organised by the Italian Presidency of the Council of EU.
9. UK-EU: EAW: House of Lords Select Committee: Despite flaws, European Arrest Warrant provides vital extradition arrangements, says Lords: Report(pdf)
10. EU: Council of the European Union: SIS II (Schengen Information System): EU doc no: 14219-14 (pdf) call to set up:
"a central Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) integrated into the SIS II central system... " which would: "provide for fingerprints to be used not only to confirm the result of an alphanumeric identity search but also to identify a person on the basis of the biometric data alone.... in order to store fingerprints attached to SIS II alerts on persons, particularly for refusal of entry or law enforcement purposes. According to the concept, the new SIS II - AFIS would function as a 10-print identification AFIS behind the Central SIS II" [emphasis added]
11. Should research by academics whose institutions receive EU money be discredited? (EU Law Analysis, link): by Professor Steve Peers, University of Essex:
"At one conference, Sir Francis Jacobs (a former Advocate-General of the CJEU) introduced me as ‘one of the Court’s severest critics’. At another conference, a former Council official described how during his time at the Council, its fiercest enemies were myself and Tony Bunyan, the director of Statewatch.
More broadly, my general impression, based on two decades working in the field, is that other specialists in EU law and politics, like me, start from a broadly pro-European perspective but have no compunction about criticising the EU institutions whenever they think it’s justifiable."
12. EU: Council of the European Union: Presumption of Innocence & Libya: Crisis Approach
• PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE: Proposal for a Directive on the strengthening of certain aspects of the presumption of innocence and of the right to be present at trial in criminal proceedings - Revised text following the meeting of the Friends of the Presidency on 27 October (pdf): The Council developing its negotiating position: "Delegations will find attached a revised version of the draft Directive, taking account of the comments made during the meeting of the Friends of the Presidency and of the Working Party on Substantive Criminal Law on Monday 27 October 2015."
• LIBYA: Libya, a Political Framework for a Crisis Approach (LIMITE doc no: 13829-14, pdf): From the European External Action Service: "three possible scenarios for the near future; a stalemate, with no clear winner; an escalation of violence, in which one side might overcome the other following a full-scale civil war; or a cessation of hostilities and the resumption of the political process. What these scenarios demonstrate is that the possibility for the EU to define its strategy and programme its activities depends highly on the outcome. The first 2 scenarios are clearly not conducive to any major EU footprint and/or support programme. Only a ceasefire agreement could eventually allow for a resumption of EU support." [emphasis in original]
13. PROFILING: Reports from UNICR Profiling Project:: Working Paper: Defining Profiling (pdf) and The impact of profiling on fundamental rights(pdf)
14. EU catches up, takes steps to control export of intrusion spyware, IP monitoring (PI, link): "Privacy International, Reporters Without Borders, Digitale Gesellschaft, FIDH, and Human Rights Watch welcome news that the European Commission will move ahead and add specific forms of surveillance technology to the EU control list on dual use items, thus taking steps to finally hold companies to account who sell spy equipment and enable human rights abuses."
15. UPDATE: UK: Submission regarding MI5, MI6 & GCHQ access to lawyer-clients relationships: Guidance submitted to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT): concerning LLP (Legal Professional Privilege) Full-text (pdf) in : Case No. IPT/13/132-9/H BETWEEN: (1) ABDEL HAKIM BELHADJ, (2) FATIMA BOUDCHAR, (3) SAMI AL SAADI, (4) KARIMA AIT BAAZIZ, (5) KHADIJA SAADI, (6) MUSTAFA AL SAADI, (7) ANAS AL SAADI, (8) ARWA AL SAADI: Claimants
and (1) SECURITY SERVICE (2) SECRET INTELLIGENCE SERVICE (3) GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATIONS HEADQUARTERS (4) SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (5) THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS: Respondents
Government forced to release secret policies on surveillance of lawyers (Reprieve, link): "The Government has been forced to release secret policies which show that GCHQ and MI5 have for years advised staff that they may “target the communications of lawyers,” and use legally privileged material “just like any other item of intelligence.” and see: MI5, MI6 and GCHQ 'spied on lawyers' (BBC News, link), also: UK intelligence agencies spying on lawyers in sensitive security cases - Internal MI5, MI6 and GCHQ documents reveal routine interception of legally privileged communications(Guardian, link): "The intelligence services have routinely been intercepting legally privileged communications between lawyers and their clients in sensitive security cases, according to internal MI5, MI6 and GCHQ documents. The information obtained may even have been exploited unlawfully and used by the agencies in the fighting of court cases in which they themselves are involved, the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) has been told, resulting in miscarriages of justice. Exchanges between lawyers and their clients enjoy a special protected status under the law."
16. EU: MEDITERRANEAN: SEARCH & RESCUE: “Apps” and social media to assist refugees crossing the Mediterranean? We need more of these! (pdf) Press release from: Andrej Hunko, The Left Party parliamentary group in the Bundestag, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe:
17. EU: Council of the European Union: LIMITE documents: The cost of policing football matches, GAMM Update & Migratory flows
• FOOTBALL MATCHES: Results of a study on the costs of hosting and deploying visiting police delegations in connections with football matches (and other sports events) with an international dimension ((LIMITE doc no: 13649-14, pdf): Apparently there is:
"increasing tendency on the part of some police and other authorities to decline to send or to host police delegations as a means of making budgetary savings in a challenging financial climate. The impact of this tendency on levels of European football violence and misbehaviour and on the effectiveness of international police cooperation in this important area has generated widespread concern among both European policy makers and front-line policing practitioners....
Even though: "the average policing cost for hosting and deploying a visiting police delegation for the home and away legs of, say, a UEFA Champions League or Europa League match, is only around EUR 1 100 for each police authority." [emphasis added] and see:
Draft Council Conclusions adopting the 2014-2016 EU work programme on minimising risks to safety, security and public order in connection with sports events, in particular football matches, with an international dimension - Progress update - October 2014 Delegations will find in annex the progress update of the above Council Conclusions (doc. 16373/13) (LIMITE doc no: 13929-14, pdf)
• GAMM: High Level Working Party on Asylum and Migration: Summary of discussions (LIMITE, doc no 13605-14, pdf). Contains detailed GAMM Update: "The Commission presented the state of play of dialogues and processes under the Global Approach. The GAMM update is set out in the Annex to this Note."
• Taking action to better manage migratory flows (LIMITE doc no: 13747-14, pdf)
18. European Parliament Hearing with papers: Challenges in constitutional affairs in the new term: taking stock and looking forward (124 pages, pdf) including "Trends in differentiation of the EU Law and lessons for the future" by Professor Steve Peers, University of Essex.
19. UN: Your rights on one page: Special Rapporteur releases best practices fact sheet on assembly rights (link) and The Right to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly Best Practices Fact Sheet (pdf)
20. EU: DUBLIN: ECHR: Tarakhel v Switzerland: Another nail in the coffin of the Dublin system? (EU Law Analysis, link). See also ECHR Press Release(pdf):"Sending Afghan family of asylum seekers back to Italy under the “Dublin” Regulation without individual guarantees concerning their care would be in violation of the Convention" and Full-text of judgment ([pdf)
21. The Migrants Files: A database on the more than 25,000 migrants who died on their way to Europe since 2000 (link) A group of European journalists has launched a project "The Migrants' Files", which seeks to accurately calculate and report the deaths of emigrants seeking refuge in Europe.
"Little is known about how many men, women and children actually have lost their lives on their journey to Europe. Believing that policy unsupported by facts cannot be optimal, a consortium of European journalists committed themselves to systematically assembling and analyzing the data on the deaths of Europe’s would-be migrants. The Migrants' Files project is partially funded by the European non-profit organization Journalismfund.eu."
22. European Parliament Study:
- The immunity of Members of the European Parliament (pdf): "Upon request by the JURI Committee, this in-depth analysis examines the immunity of Members of the European Parliament. It describes the scope of their immunity, as clarified by the Court of Justice of the European Union, together with the procedures followed by Parliament in cases of waiver or defence of parliamentary immunities. Lastly, it looks at the practice of the competent committee in order to infer the general principles underlying its decisions."
And see LIBE Committee (Civil Liberties): Protocol 36 to the Treaty of Lisbon on transitional provision: the position of the United Kingdom (pdf)
23. BERLIN WALL CROSSES TAKEN TO MELILLA: Stolen Berlin Wall memorial taken to Spain (The Local, link) and “The group calls itself the Centre for Political Beauty (Zentrum für politische Schönheit) and posted pictures on its website of African refugees holding the memorials."
24. EU: FOREIGN FIGHTERS ROADMAP: Council of the European Union: EU Counter-Terrorism Coodinator: Subject: Foreign Fighters: follow-up on the Conclusions of the European Council of 30 August 2014 - Roadmap (LIMITE, DS doc no 1461-14,: pdf). Includes on the proposed EU-PNR Directive:
"- contact President of the EP: IT [Council] Presidency: Oct 2014
- brief LIBE, CTC, COM and Europol: Nov 2014
- brief national MEPs, Member States, by Dec 2014"
and: "Consider whether to prepare a draft legislation amending the Schengen Borders Code to allow for systematic checks on persons enjoying the right of free movement at external borders" [emphasis added]
25.London police trial gang violence 'predicting' software (BBC News, link), includes quote from Statewatch:
""It is clear that harnessing and analysing vast data sets may simplify the work of the police," said European human rights group Statewatch earlier this year
"However, this in itself is not a justification for their use. There are all sorts of powers that could be given to law enforcement agencies, but which are not, due to the need to protect individual rights and the rule of law - effectiveness should never be the only yardstick by which law enforcement powers are assessed.
"The ends of crime detection, prevention and reduction cannot in themselves justify the means of indiscriminate data-gathering and processing."
See also: Met Police trials analytics to fight gang crime (ComputerWeekly.com, link), London Metropolitan Police Service and Accenture Complete Analytics Pilot Program to Fight Gang Crime (Accenture, link), Met chief with huge pension to work for firm advising police (Daily Mail, link),Accenture and the outsourcers (Police Market report, link) and Next Generation Policing: Accenture Police Center of Excellence (link)
26. EU: WHITHER ACCOUNTABILITY FOR EU OPERATIONAL COOPERATION ON INTERNAL SECURITY?
Council of the European Union: Standing Committee on operational cooperation on internal security (COSI): Report to the European Parliament and national Parliaments on COSI January 2013 - June 2014 (Doc no:13523/14, pdf) : The "Council shall keep the European Parliament and the national Parliaments informed of the proceedings of the Standing Committee". While this Report to the EP and national parliaments (14440-14, pdf), is open (made public) and has 41 footnotes with references to dozens of documents many of which are not available to the public and not sent to the EP. The European and national parliaments are told that they will simply be "informed" about activities of COSI, a committee of officials, which:
"will continue to monitor the EU's internal security and will retain a margin of flexibility to address unexpected or emerging threats to EU security...The increasing link between internal and external security will also require intensified cooperation between all actors involved, including in the field of the Common Foreign and Security Policy. COSI will seek complementarity, coherence and consistency in the development and implementation of EU internal security-related policies, including by reference to the external dimension and regional cooperation."
Neither of the following documents under COSI's remit are public - they are not Classified documents but LIMITE documents, that is not accessible to citizens and civil society::
Implementation of the Council conclusions setting priorities in the fight against organised crime for 2014 - 2017: identification of the relevant actors, (LIMITE doc no:11538-rev2-14, pdf): "Delegations will find in annex the table of relevant actors for the Policy Cycle crime priorities and are kindly invited to provide an update on their participation therein."
and Draft Council conclusions on the development of a renewed European Union Internal Security Strategy (LIMITE doc no: 14186-rev1-14, pdf)
27. UK-ECHR: House of Commons Library: UK Cases at the European Court of Human Rights since 1975 (pdf): And see: The United Kingdom in Strasbourg – all the Article 10 judgments (Inform's Blog, link)
28. EU: CHARTER of FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: Council of the European Union discussing how to comply with the Charter in the light of CJEU decisions in Council Working Parties: Guidelines on methodological steps to be taken to check fundamental rights compatibility at the Council's preparatory bodies - Member States comments (LIMITE doc no: 14573-14, pdf) Replies from: Greece, France, Hungary, the Netherlands and the UK. The UK comments: "It is of paramount importance that EU legislation respects and protects fundamental rights. But in seeking to ensure this, the guidelines should not unduly constrain legitimate use of legislative competence. The UK is simply keen to ensure that the text of the guidelines accurately reflects the case law of the Court......[and] Finally is this document designed to be public? There are currently references to CLS opinion which will need to be removed if this is the case." Comment on UK comment: The CJEU has previously ruled on access to documents concerning legislative measures - which this discussion covers in large part - in the Turco: Judgment (pdf).
See background: Guidelines revised text (LIMITE doc no: 13390-14, pdf)
29. EU: CYBER DIPLOMACY: Council of the European Union: Presidency: To: Friends of the Presidency Group on Cyber Issues: Subject: An outline for European Cyber Diplomacy Engagement (LIMITE doc no: 9967/rev4-14, pdf): "The present paper addresses neither the procedures for the establishment of the Union position in the EU's external relations on cyber matters in each context, nor the issues of external representation of the Union, and is thus without prejudice to the allocation of powers between the EU institutions."
30. PETITION: A collective refusal: an appeal by researchers involved in the production of knowledge on migration (change.org, link): And in Italian(link) and French (link)
"Day after day we keep receiving updates on that uncanny war which is ongoing in the Mediterranean: updates on how many migrants were rescued and how many have died since the beginning of “Mare Nostrum,” the “military and humanitarian” operation that the Italian government enlisted in the Mediterranean as a response to the shipwreck of October 3, 2013. At that time, the island of Lampedusa was swamped by a wave of dead bodies - of women, men, and children. We are asked to form our opinion on Italian and European policies – those policies made also in our name - based on the statistics of deaths"
31. EU-PNR: Germany backs plan to retain personal flight data across EU (PCWorld, link):
"The German government is calling for the EU-wide retention of personal flight data as an anti-terrorism measure, but is facing opponents who object to yet another database holding private information. Jjihadists returning from battlegrounds in the Middle East threaten the security of the EU and urgent action is needed in the Federal Government’s view, Germany said in a written response to questions asked by Andrej Hunko, a member of the Bundestag.....
However, such a database would violate fundamental privacy rights and is not necessary because tracking down terrorists can be done with existing information systems, according to Hunko. This will be a “boundless retention of air traveler data to which police and intelligence agencies demand unlimited access,” he said.".
32. EU: "Hot Returns": When the state acts outside the law - Legal Report (pdf) This Report was fostered by the I+D+i IUSMIGRANTE Project (DER 2011-26449)
"Images, witnesses and other numerous sources with evidential value accredit the practices that have been coined as “hot returns” in the cities of Ceuta and Melilla and the small islands under Spanish sovereignty”
33. EU: AN EXAMPLE OF NEO-COLONIALISM? FRONTEX: Africa-Frontex Intelligence Community Joint Report (AFIC) - 2013 (4MB, pdf) and 2012 Report(pdf) Parts have been censored. Frontex, the EU Border Agency, under the hat of the external role of internal security, extends its role outside the EU. Is this an example of the EU Member States' post-colonial role in Africa?
34. Islamophobia, loyalty and the treason debate (Institute of Race Relations, link) "As the coalition government considers a revival of treason laws, sections of the media are hunting for national traitors and their fellow-travellers." and see: Calendar of racism and resistance (17-30 October 2014): A fortnightly resource for anti-racist and social justice campaigns, highlighting key events in the UK and Europe (IRR, link)
35. UK: Tameside TUC's In-depth Report on Blacklisting (link)
"OUT today is Tameside TUC's study of blacklisting in the British building trade. This unique 52-page A5 book concludes our research into blacklisting stretching back for over a decade of struggle by a group of Manchester contracting electricians. This book illustrates a special investigation by two officers of Tameside TUC focusing on cover-ups, collaboration, and complicity by major British construction companies affiliated to the now defunct Consulting Association."
Copies of 'Boys on the Blacklist' available by postal subscription: £3.00 for one copy (post included). Make cheque payable to 'Tameside TUC' and send to: 46, Kingsland Road, Rochdale, Lancs. OL11 3HQ. Bundles of 5 copies - £14.60p a package (post included). Tel.: 01706 861793. e-mail: northernvoices@hotmail.com
36. UN Rapporteur: 2nd Report: Report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association (September 2014, pdf): "The present report addresses concerns about the exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the context of multilateral institutions."
See also: UN must not exclude civil society from UNCAC meetings (UNCA Civil Society Coalition , link)
37. UK-GCHQ: Eyes Wide Shut: Secret policy reveals GCHQ can get warrantless access to bulk NSA data (PI, link):
38. GREECE-ECHR: Viewpoint: Sharifi et al. vs. Italy and Greece case: The Strasbourg Court finds Italy guilty. An appeal from below stops refoulements from the Adriatic sea ports (pdf) by Alessandra Sciurba (Melting Pot): "It amounted to inhuman and degrading treatment, the prohibiton of collective refoulements and the right to an effective remedy were violated."
39. UK-EU: UK axes support for Mediterranean migrant rescue operation - Refugees and human rights organisations react with anger as minister says saving people encourages others to risk voyage (Guardian, link): Government Minister's answer to a question in the House of Lords:
"To ask Her Majesty's Government what naval or air-sea rescue contribution they will make to prevent refugees and migrants drowning in the Mediterranean. [HL1977]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Anelay of St Johns) (Con): We do not support planned search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean. We believe that they create an unintended "pull factor", encouraging more migrants to attempt the dangerous sea crossing and thereby leading to more tragic and unnecessary deaths. The Government believes the most effective way to prevent refugees and migrants attempting this dangerous crossing is to focus our attention on countries of origin and transit, as well as taking steps to fight the people smugglers who wilfully put lives at risk by packing migrants into unseaworthy boats."
Tony Bunyan, Statewatch Director, commented:
“The government’s justification for not participating in Triton is cynical and an abdication of responsibility by saying that not helping to rescue people fleeing from war, persecution and poverty who are likely to perish is an acceptable way to discourage immigration.”
See also: Illegal migration: Frontex chief says he 'didn't know Italy is scrapping Mare Nostrum' (Independent.mt, link)
40. EU: Document sets out EU "concept" for military drone use
A document recently made public by Statewatch sets out how drones could contribute "to joint operations in EU-led military operations and military missions" and sets out "basic guidelines on tasks and the environment in which to use RPAS, characteristics, capabilities and initial views for preparation and training requirements (including potential military support to civilian missions...)."
The document was produced in March by the European External Action Service - effectively the EU's foreign office - and is entitled "Concept for the Contribution of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems [RPAS] to EU-led Military Operations"
Mos Maiorum
1. UPDATE: EU: Joint Operation "Mos Maiorum" (13-26 October 2014): Statewatch Summary of coverage: (5.11.14): Media and Web coverage: no 7(pdf)
(24.10.14): Media and Web coverage no 6 (pdf), (20.10.14): Media and Web coverage: no 5 (pdf), (17.10.14): Media and Web coverage: no 4 (pdf), (15.10.14): Media and Web coverage: no 3 (pdf), 13.10.14: : Media and Web coverage: no 2 (pdf) and 13.10.14:same day Web-media coverage: no 1(pdf) and see: "Mos Maiorum": Images and photos of protests (pdf)
2. EU: Joint Police Operation: (13-26 October 2014): "Mos Maiorum": Images and photos of protests (pdf)
3. EU: Joint Police Operation: "Mos Maiorum": The EU Held Its Biggest Ever Anti-Immigrant Crackdown (VICE, link):
" Operations of this kind happen twice a year and are growing in size all the time, as the number of migrants in Europe increases. But this was the first time people knew it was going to happen in advance, thanks to some documents from the European Council published by the Statewatch website in July. The documents stated that border guards were ordered to reprimand immigrants and record information relating to ethnicity in a bid to better understand the flow of immigrants into and across Europe. Ultimately, to better oppose it.
The publication of the documents gave migrant solidarity activists time to develop a tool that enabled people to track the operation in real time. A group associated with Berlin-based anti-racism collective Nadir, created Map Mos Maiorum!
EU-USA: NSA-GCHQ
1. USA: Congressional Research Service (RS) reports: Intelligence Whistleblower Protections: In Brief (pdf):
"Intelligence whistleblowers are generally Intelligence Community (IC) employees or contractors who bring to light allegations of agency wrongdoings by, for example, disclosing information on such wrongdoings to congressional intelligence committees. Such disclosures can aid oversight of, or help curb misconduct within, intelligence agencies. However, intelligence whistleblowers could face retaliation from their employers for their disclosures, and the fear of such retaliation may deter whistleblowing."
and Reform of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Courts: Procedural and Operational Changes (pdf):
"Recent disclosures concerning the size and scope of the National Security Agency’s (NSA) surveillance activities both in the United States and abroad have prompted a flurry of congressional activity aimed at reforming the foreign intelligence gathering process. While some measures would overhaul the substantive legal rules of the USA PATRIOT Act or other provisions of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), there are a host of bills designed to make procedural and operational changes to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC)..."
2. GERMANY: BND-Chef Schindler: Internationale Geheimdienstkooperation ausbauen (Heise Online, link): [The Director of the Federal Intelligence Service (BND), Gerhard Schindler, wants to expand international cooperation of intelligence] And see: German security law could lock out U.S. tech companies (The Hill, link)
3. DENMARK: Snowden documents show systematic British climate spying against COP 15 and COP 16. The British intelligence service GCHQ has systematically spied against the international climate negotiations, writes the Danish daily newspaper Information: Disguised as Climate Negotiatorsin it Saturday edition 1 November 2014.
UN general secretary Ban Ki-moon has since criticized the espionage against the negotiations. In a comment to the newspaper Tuesday 4 November the head of the Danish Police Intelligence Service (PET), Mr. Jens Madsen, writes, that PET has no reason to believe that British intelligence activities had been in an unlawful way directed toward Denmark or Danish interest.
And see: GCHQ document (Pdf)
4. REMOTE ACCESS-ENCRYPTION SURVEILLANCE: Secret Manuals Show the Spyware Sold to Despots and Cops Worldwide (The Intercept, link):
"When Apple and Google unveiled new encryption schemes last month, law enforcement officials complained that they wouldn’t be able to unlock evidence on criminals’ digital devices. What they didn’t say is that there are already methods to bypass encryption, thanks to off-the-shelf digital implants readily available to the smallest national agencies and the largest city police forces easy-to-use software that takes over and monitors digital devices in real time, according to documents obtained by The Intercept. We’re publishing in full, for the first time, manuals explaining the prominent commercial implant software “Remote Control System,” manufactured by the Italian company Hacking Team...
The manuals describe Hacking Team’s software for government technicians and analysts, showing how it can activate cameras, exfiltrate emails, record Skype calls, log typing, and collect passwords on targeted devices. They also catalog a range of pre-bottled techniques for infecting those devices using wifi networks, USB sticks, streaming video, and email attachments to deliver viral installers."
See: Document: The hacking suite for governmental interception (link)
And: Hacking Team Responds in Defense of Its Spyware (The Intercept, link)
5. European Parliament: L' affaire: ECHELON: Les travaux du Parlement européen sur le système global d'interception, 1998 - 2002 (pdf):
The European Parliament has published a Study that discusses concerns on the security and confidentiality of telecommunications and the violation by the interception system, Echelon. The system had been developed and managed by the signatories of the UK-USA Treaty.
USING THE STATEWATCH WEBSITE
News Online: http://www.statewatch.org/news/newsfull.htmWhats New (all new items): http://www.statewatch.org/whatsnew.htmIn the News and Statewatch News Digest: http://www.statewatch.org/news/Newsinbrief.htmObservatories (20): http://www.statewatch.org/observatories.htmAnalyses (1999 - ongoing): http://www.statewatch.org/analyses.htmStatewatch Journal: Current issue: http://www.statewatch.org/contents/swjournal23n2.htmlStatewatch Journal: Archive: Since 1991: http://www.statewatch.org/subscriber/Database, over 30,000 items: http://database.statewatch.org/search.aspStatewatch European Monitoring & Documentation Centre on Jutice and Home Affairs in the EU: http://www.statewatch.org/semdoc/JHA Archive - EU Jutice and Home Affairs documents from 1976 onwards: http://www.statewatch.org/semdoc/index.php?id=1143About Statewatch: http://www.statewatch.org/about.htm
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