The European Parliament adopted the resolution by Mr Gerhard SCHMID (PES, D) on the existence of a global system for the interception of private and commercial communications (ECHELON interception system). In the wake of the findings of the Temporary Committee of the Echelon Interception System, MEPs voted 367 to 154 with 34 abstentions in favour of this resolution which calls on the Member States to provide all European citizens with the same guarantees on the protection of privacy and confidentiality of correspondence. (Please refer to the previous text).�