MEPs hear Snowden's eagerly awaited response to the LIBE inquiry, vote to approve rules on access to genetic resources and benefit sharing, and standardising MOT tests.

Snowden testifies / Nagoya protocol / Roadworthiness tests

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/16527781/n001-140311-002-en.srt

Finally, it wasn’t via video conference,  but in writing -

that Edward Snowden  responded to MEPs this week.

They had invited  the US computer specialist to testify

on relations between the NSA  and EU secret services.

than via video conference  due to safety concerns.

His message came from Russia  where he has sought refuge

since his requests for asylum were rejected.

Snowden spoke frankly,  not only on the role of the NSA,

but also on that  of the European secret services.

Ultimately, each of the EU national  government's spy services

are independently hawking  domestic access to NSA

without knowing how this is enabling  the greater patchwork of mass surveillance

On 12 March, MEPs will vote  on the inquiry report

on the repercussions of NSA surveillance.

What we did in the inquiry  is to try to build a sort of digital bill of rights,

to go beyond just examining his allegations,

but to then build a digital bill of rights,  a digital Habeas Corpus,

a set of demands for the future for citizens.

Fighting biopiracy is the target  of the Nagoya protocol -

an international agreement MEPs  have finally ratified in the EU's name

despite intense lobbying  from seed manufacturers.

Currently, the cosmetic, pharmaceutical  and seed industries

compete for and utilise natural resources.

Sometimes these resources are  the ancestral heritage of local populations

who alone hold the secret to their existence.

The Nagoya protocol will facilitate  a fairer sharing of the benefits

arising out of use of these resources.  But it doesn’t stop there.

It’s important in the fight to avert  the loss of global biodiversity.

It’s important for the EU's engagement  in international negotiations on biodiversity.

There are more than 290 million  vehicles on the roads in Europe:

across the 3.4 million kilometres  of European roads.

To reinforce road safety  and safeguard the environment,

MEPs have adopted a report harmonising  roadworthiness tests for vehicles.

The aim: lay down minimum  standards across EU countries.