Strasbourg, 15 September 2022
As the spyware inquiry committee prepares for its fact-finding mission to Poland 19–21 September, MEPs condemn the Polish authorities’ lack of cooperation with their visit.
Today, Coordinators representing their political groups on the EP Committee of Inquiry to investigate the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware issued the following statement:
“We strongly condemn the fact that the Polish government has refused to collaborate with the Inquiry Committee by declining the invitation to the hearing and refusing to meet with the fact-finding mission next week. We believe that such meetings would give the Government opportunity to respond to reports about illegal use of intrusive surveillance against persons deemed as political opponents. Nevertheless, the Committee will continue to work diligently and transparently in uncovering abusive spyware practices in the European Union, even if a Member State government fails to comply with its duty to cooperate with an EP committee of inquiry. We welcome the cooperation of many other actors including victims, experts and civil society representatives, who are present today, and we look forward to more meetings next week.”
Juan Ignacio Zoido Álvarez (EPP Coordinator, Spain)
Hannes Heide (S&D Coordinator, Austria)
Róża Thun und Hohenstein (Renew Coordinator, Poland)
Sophie In’t Veld (Rapporteur, Renew, Netherlands)
Saskia Bricmont (Greens/EFA Coordinator, Belgium)
Anne-Sophie Pelletier (The Left Coordinator, France)
On Thursday 15 September, the committee held a hearing on Poland. You can re-watch it here.