歐盟威脅中止與美國的數據共享協議

Brussels has threatened to suspend two key data sharing agreements with the US, in a sharp escalation of transatlantic tensions over claims that America’s intelligence agencies have been spying on European citizens and embassies.

布魯塞爾方面威脅要中止歐盟(EU)與美國之間兩項重要數據的共享協議。此舉令大西洋兩岸之間因所謂美國情報機構對歐洲公民和歐洲駐美使館實施監聽而產生的矛盾驟然升級。

The move comes despite an attempt by the Obama administration to defuse the row over US surveillance activities, which is threatening to overshadow talks on a EU-US trade deal next week.

奧巴馬(Obama)政府其實已展開努力，力求化解歐美雙方圍繞美方監聽活動產生的爭執。這一爭執可能會爲下週歐盟與美國之間的貿易協定談判蒙上陰影。

In a letter to US officials, Cecilia Malmström, the EU’s home affairs commissioner, said that unless the US could demonstrate that it was respecting EU data security laws it would be forced to halt a deal that gives US authorities access to Europeans’ financial transaction data and airline passenger information.

在一封致美國官員的信中，歐盟民政事務專員塞西莉亞•馬姆斯特羅姆(Cecilia Malmström)表示，除非美方能夠證明其尊重歐盟的數據安全法律，否則歐盟將被迫中止一項允許美國有關部門訪問歐洲金融交易數據和航空客運信息的協議。

Earlier it emerged that Washington had sought to assuage European concerns over surveillance, offering talks on “the collection and oversight of intelligence and questions of privacy and data protection” in parallel to the trade negotiations.

此前有消息稱，華盛頓方面已在設法緩解歐盟方面對美方監聽活動的擔心，美方提議雙方在進行上述貿易談判的同時，就“情報蒐集與監控以及隱私和數據保護問題”展開磋商。

The offer, from Eric Holder, the US attorney- general, was made following a phone call between President Barack Obama and Angela Merkel, Germany’s chancellor, on Wednesday night.

美國司法部長埃裏克•霍爾德(Eric Holder)發出上述提議之前，美國總統巴拉克•奧巴馬(Barack Obama)和德國總理安格拉•默克爾(Angela Merkel)已在週三夜間就此事通過電話。

Ms Merkel, who is determined not to allow the row to upset the trade talks in spite of French calls for a delay, was reassured that Mr Obama was fully aware of the public outcry in Europe over the reports of mass surveillance, German officials said.

德國官員稱，奧巴馬向默克爾表示，自己已充分認識到有關美方大規模監聽活動的報道在歐洲民衆當中引起的不滿，此言緩解了默克爾的一些擔心。默克爾決心不讓這場爭執擾亂歐美貿易談判，儘管法國方面呼籲把談判先往後放一放。

The European Commission’s move risks undoing such diplomatic efforts to defuse the dispute. Ms Malmström’s team will be in Washington next week to carry out a review of the agreement. If the assessment uncovers any breach of EU security rules it will be immediately suspended, said an EU official.

歐盟發出的關於中止數據共享協議的威脅，可能會讓上述緩解爭執的外交努力前功盡棄。馬姆斯特羅姆的團隊下週將出現在華盛頓，對協議作出重新評估。一名歐盟官員表示，如果在評估中發現有任何違反歐盟安全法規的地方，協議將立即中止。