EP’s PEGA Committee continues contacts in Cyprus

The European Parliament’s committee of inquiry to investigate the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware, PEGA, continues contacts in Cyprus concerning practices regarding the possible export of surveillance technologies from Cyprus, as well as the connections between companies and persons in Greece.

On Wednesday, the members of the Committee will hold a joint meeting with the Minister of Commerce Energy, Commerce and Industry Natasa Pilides and Deputy Minister for Research, Innovation and Digital Policy Kyriacos Kokkinos and later will meet with Attorney-General Giorgos Savvides.

At noon, the MEPs will also meet with delegations of the parliamentary committees of Ethics and Legal Affairs.

The visit takes place in the context of an inquiry on the use of spyware in Greece, will continue from Wednesday through Friday with a series of meetings in Athens.

Jeroen Lenaers, the president of the PEGA Committee told CNA that the inquiries will cover the practices regarding the possible export of surveillance technologies from Cyprus, as well as the connections between companies and persons in Greece and Cyprus.

Speaking to CNA, Lenaers said “there are some companies that have come up in the investigation that have links to Cyprus” and referred to the NSO Group and the question of export permits.

Cyprus’ Attorney-General who will meet with the Committee today, on Tuesday said that Cyprus fully respects the protection of private communications which is enshrined in the Constitution.

“There are very strict rules under which any surveillance can be carried out lawfully,” he said noting that he will explain these rules to the Committee.

Yesterday the MEPs had a meeting with legal expert Elias Stephanou and later on met with journalist Fanis Makrides and writer Makarios Drousiotis.