A delegation from the European Parliament’s inquiry committee on Wednesday continues investigations in Cyprus over the use of Pegasus software (PEGA) and equivalent surveillance spyware.
The fact-finding mission which is to be continued in Greece seeks to establish a link to Israel’s Pegasus spyware – used across the continent in a shocking surveillance scandal.
It is estimated that over 50,000 telephone numbers, mainly journalists, activists, and politicians, are being monitored through the software.
PEGA committee chair Jeroen Lenaers said he was pleased to see the European Commission addressing the issue of surveillance at EU level and called for minimum standards for e-security across the bloc.
He also highlighted the need for Europe to become a global leader in efforts to regulate the surveillance sector.
Meetings in Nicosia on Tuesday and Wednesday focus on accusations that Predator has been used against journalists and opposition politicians in Greece while also looking into potential connections with Cyprus.
The delegation has already met legal expert Elias Stephanou and journalists Fanis Makrides and Makarios Droushiotis.
On Wednesday, the delegation will have a joint meeting with Commerce Minister Natasa Pilides and Deputy Minister for Research and Digital Policy Kyriacos Kokkinos.
A meeting with Attorney General George Savvides is also scheduled and then the MEPs will visit parliament before departing for Greece on Wednesday afternoon.
The MEPs participating in the mission include Lenaers (EPP, Netherlands), rapporteur Sophia in ‘t Veld (Renew, Netherlands), Sylvie Guillaume (S&D, France), Juan Ignacio Zoido Álvarez (EPP, Spain) and Elissavet Vozemberg – Vrionidi (EPP, Greece).
