On the 16 of June, Ministers in the Justice Council have sealed a general approach on the Commission proposal on the Data Protection Regulation. Modern, harmonised data protection rules will contribute to making Europe fit for the digital age and are a step forward to the EU Digital Single Market. Trilogue negotiations with the Parliament and the Council will start in June; the shared ambition is to reach a final agreement by the end of 2015.
Andrus Ansip, Vice-President for the Digital Single Market, said: "I feel very encouraged by this positive step towards improved and harmonised data protection rules. Data Protection is at the heart of the Digital Single Market; it builds a strong basis to help Europe make better use of innovative digital services like big data and cloud computing."
Věra Jourová, Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality said: "Today we take a big step forward in making Europe fit for the digital age. Citizens and businesses deserve modern data protection rules that keep pace with the latest technological changes. High data protection standards will strengthen consumers' trust in digital services, and businesses will benefit from a single set of rules across 28 countries. I am convinced that we can reach a final agreement with the European Parliament and the Council by the end of this year".
The aim of the data protection reform launched by the Commission in 2012 (IP/12/46) is to enable people to better control their personal data. At the same time modernised rules will allow businesses to make the most of the opportunities of the Digital Single Market by cutting red tape and benefiting from reinforced consumer trust. A more rigorous and coherent data protection framework will provide for greater legal and practical certainty for citizens, businesses and public authorities.
In March 2014, the European Parliament supported the Commission's proposal to reform data protection (see MEMO/14/186). The European Council has called for adoption of the data protection reform in 2015.
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(For more details see MEMO)