The Parliamentary Assembly applauds the finalisation of the draft third additional protocol to the European Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters, recognising the need for modernisation in response to increasing transnational crime. This protocol updates the convention by incorporating modern technologies like secure electronic communication and video conferencing, improving cost-effectiveness and efficiency in international criminal co-operation while upholding human rights standards. It sets an improved legal basis for state surveillance with necessary safeguards, addressing concerns raised by the European Court of Human Rights and recommendations from the Assembly regarding spyware and secret state surveillance. The Assembly calls for urgent measures ensuring that state surveillance complies with international standards, urging implementation of court judgments, adherence to legal frameworks for spyware regulation, and further steps by the Committee of Ministers towards recommendations on surveillance and human rights. Non-member states joining the protocol should also align their surveillance legislation with these standards.