MEPs have threatened to block a free trade deal between the US and the EU if Washington fails to stop its mass spying activities.<br /><br />The call came in a non-binding European Parliament resolution that follows a six-month inquiry, which took testimony from fugitive whistleblower Edward Snowden.<br /><br />The trade deal should include a data protection clause, says Belgian MEP Marc Tarabella. “For us at the European level it is essential that people are protected,” he said.<br /><br />MEPs said that the fight against terrorism does not justify such mass surveillance, as one leading Dutch Liberal MEP explains.<br /><br />“Despite mass surveillance we had 9/11, Madrid, London, Mumbai, Toulouse, Oslo. I mean, you name it. There has been Boston, there have been many attacks and in every single case the perpetrators were known to the secret services beforehand – so why are they spying on innocent citizens?” asked Sophia in ‘t Veld.<br /><br />MEPs had initially said that EU governments would guarantee Edward Snowden asylum, but this demand was eventually
