Joint EU-US group to assess US spy ops

A joint EU-US expert group will investigate alleged US spying on EU officials and report its findings in October, 2013 the European Commission announced on the 3 July 2013.

EUObserver reported that France and Germany backed down on threats to suspend US trade talks, after the US offered to set up the 'working groups' on data protection.

ESO: Background Information: Parliament to launch enquiry into US eavesdropping http://www.europeansources.info/record/parliament-to-launch-enquiry-into-us-eavesdropping/

European Commission: RAPID: SPEECH/13/607: U.S. and EU Member State surveillance programmes: National security does not mean that anything goes http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-13-607_en.pdf

EUObserver, 03.07.13: France and Germany eat their words on US trade talks http://euobserver.com/foreign/120750

ESO: Background Information: Attacks from America: NSA Spied on European Union Offices http://www.europeansources.info/record/attacks-from-america-nsa-spied-on-european-union-offices/

Social Europe Journal, 05.07.13: Is Spying On Other European States Illegal? http://www.social-europe.eu/2013/07/is-spying-on-other-european-states-illegal/

El Periódico de Catalunya, 05.07.13: Europe is annoyed, but will end up negotiating (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief/3944101-europe-annoyed-will-end-negotiating

EurActiv, 08.07.13: Spying scandal will not threaten trade deal, says top US envoy http://www.euractiv.com/trade/spying-scandal-threaten-trade-de-news-529132

---