Press Release: European Commission seeks high privacy standards in EU-US data protection agreement

The European Commission on 26 May 2010 adopted a draft mandate to negotiate a personal data protection agreement between the European Union and the United States when cooperating to fight terrorism or crime. The aim is to ensure a high level of protection of personal information like passenger data or financial information that is transferred as part of transatlantic cooperation in criminal matters. The agreement would enhance the right of citizens to access, rectify or delete data, where appropriate. EU citizens would receive a right to seek judicial redress in the US if their data is unlawfully processed. Independent public authorities would be given a stronger role in helping people exercise their privacy rights and in supervising transatlantic data transfers. The Council must approve the Commission's negotiating mandate before talks can begin. The European Parliament will be fully informed at all stages of the negotiations and will have to give its consent to the outcome of the negotiations.

European Commission: Memo: MEMO/10/216:EU-US data protection agreement negotiations: frequently asked questions http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/10/216&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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