The radar complex German Federal intelligence service (BND) in Bad Aibling, Germany
The German government has agreed to tighten control of the Federal intelligence service (BND), and introduce at the legislative level, new restrictions on its activities, sources told Reuters
According to agency sources to Reuters, familiar with the agreement reached by the coalition government in Germany, the cabinet agreed on a package of reforms of the German intelligence Service (BND).
The agreement was reached during a meeting in the office of German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday, 3 June, told the news agency a few participants of the meeting.
The reforms will bring to the German parliament, in particular, imply a legal restriction of foreign intelligence surveillance functions. Thus, the proposed ban BND intelligence in relation to the EU and its citizens, as well as the EU institutions, except when it comes to suspected terrorist activities.
The agreement also requires the head of the BND, the office of German Chancellor and an independent panel of judges to adopt the strategy of foreign intelligence activities, based on the list of keywords, told Reuters sources.
Proposed changes should also establish a clear framework conditions under which the BND given permission for such activity.
BND found itself in the spotlight after a series of scandals, was outraged German Chancellor Angela Merkel, including information on how the German intelligence service helped the national security Agency (NSA), the United States to conduct surveillance of European allies by using keywords NSA.
As noted by Reuters, on April Gerhard Schindler, who ran BND since 2012, suddenly left his post two years earlier than planned, amid reports that he was forced to resign due to disagreements BND about reform.
According to Reuters data sources, the reform project must be submitted to the German Cabinet to parliament before the summer recess, which usually starts in July.
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