欧盟威胁中止与美国的数据共享协议

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.

布鲁塞尔方面威胁要中止欧盟(EU)与美国之间两项重要数据的共享协议。此举令大西洋两岸之间因所谓美国情报机构对欧洲公民和欧洲驻美使馆实施监听而产生的矛盾骤然升级。

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.

奥巴马(Obama)政府其实已展开努力，力求化解欧美双方围绕美方监听活动产生的争执。这一争执可能会为下周欧盟与美国之间的贸易协定谈判蒙上阴影。

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.

在一封致美国官员的信中，欧盟民政事务专员塞西莉亚•马姆斯特罗姆(Cecilia Malmström)表示，除非美方能够证明其尊重欧盟的数据安全法律，否则欧盟将被迫中止一项允许美国有关部门访问欧洲金融交易数据和航空客运信息的协议。

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.

此前有消息称，华盛顿方面已在设法缓解欧盟方面对美方监听活动的担心，美方提议双方在进行上述贸易谈判的同时，就“情报搜集与监控以及隐私和数据保护问题”展开磋商。

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.

美国司法部长埃里克•霍尔德(Eric Holder)发出上述提议之前，美国总统巴拉克•奥巴马(Barack Obama)和德国总理安格拉•默克尔(Angela Merkel)已在周三夜间就此事通过电话。

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.

德国官员称，奥巴马向默克尔表示，自己已充分认识到有关美方大规模监听活动的报道在欧洲民众当中引起的不满，此言缓解了默克尔的一些担心。默克尔决心不让这场争执扰乱欧美贸易谈判，尽管法国方面呼吁把谈判先往后放一放。

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.

欧盟发出的关于中止数据共享协议的威胁，可能会让上述缓解争执的外交努力前功尽弃。马姆斯特罗姆的团队下周将出现在华盛顿，对协议作出重新评估。一名欧盟官员表示，如果在评估中发现有任何违反欧盟安全法规的地方，协议将立即中止。