Press Releases

Today, the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) issued an opinion on the European Commission's communication on the transfer of Passenger Name Record (PNR) data to third countries ^(*). The Communication sets out the EU external strategy on PNR and puts forward the general principles, including a set of data protection standards, that any PNR agreement with a third country should be based on.

Today, the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) issued an opinion on the Commission's communication of 20 July 2010 (*) providing a comprehensive overview of EU instruments that regulate the collection, storage or cross-border exchange of personal data for law enforcement or migration management purposes (Schengen Information System, EURODAC and Prüm Decision on DNA data exchange are examples of those instruments).

Today, the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) addressed a letter to the Internal Market and Services Directorate General of the Commission (DG MARKT), in which he took stock of what has been achieved and what further progress needs to be made on the issues raised in the Commission Report on the state of data protection in the Internal Market Information System (IMI) ^(*).

The European Court of Justice has issued its ruling on the so-called "Bavarian Lager" case ^(*), a case that has been closely followed as a key case on the question on how best to reconcile the fundamental right to the protection of personal data with the fundamental right of public access to documents.

The Court of Justice clarified certain key concepts in the Data Protection Regulation ^(**) and interpreted the Access to Documents Regulation ^(***) with regard to the right to privacy and data protection. 

Today, the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) issued an opinion on the European Commission's draft Agreement with the United States on the Terrorist Financing Tracking Programme (TFTP) to allow US authorities access to European based financial data managed by the Belgian company SWIFT in cases of anti-terrorism investigations ^(*).

Yesterday, the European Data protection Supervisor (EDPS) issued an opinion on the European Commission's proposal to strengthen the operational capabilities of the European Agency for cooperation at external EU borders, Frontex ^(*). The opinion focuses on the growing tasks of the agency as envisaged by the proposal and their consequences for data protection.

Today, in a speech at the European Privacy and Data Protection Commissioners' Conference in Prague, the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS), Peter Hustinx, spoke strongly about the need to be proactive in the context of the unfolding debate on the future of the EU legal framework for data protection. The EDPS called on the European Commission to remain ambitious in updating the existing framework to avoid the risk of an increasing loss of relevance and effectiveness of data protection in a society that is ever more driven by technological change and globalisation.

Yesterday, the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) adopted an opinion on the European Commission's proposal to recast the Directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE, also referred to as "e-waste") ^(*),, a proposal that is intensively discussed in the European Parliament and Council, but without consideration of the data protection implications.  

The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) adopted last week an opinion on "Promoting trust in the information society by fostering data protection and privacy" as an input to the forthcoming European Commission's new European Digital Agenda. The opinion discusses the measures that could be either undertaken or promoted by the European Union to guarantee individuals' privacy and data protection rights when making use of information and communication technologies (ICTs).

Today, the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) issued a practical set of Guidelines to European institutions and bodies on how to use video-surveillance responsibly with effective safeguards in place. The Guidelines set out the principles for evaluating the need for resorting to video-surveillance and give guidance on how to conduct it in a way which minimises impact on privacy and other fundamental rights.

Today, the Court of Justice decided¹ that data protection authorities in the German Länder which supervise the processing of personal data in the private sector are not acting with "complete independence" as required by the Data Protection Directive 95/46/EC.

Today, the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) adopted an opinion on current negotiations by the European Union aimed at adopting a new multilateral agreement to strengthen the enforcement of intellectual property rights and to combat counterfeiting and piracy (Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement - ACTA).

Today, the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) adopted an opinion on the European Commission's proposal to update the current rules for civil aviation accident investigation ^(*).

The Member States of the Council of Europe and the European institutions will celebrate the European Data Protection Day for the fourth time on 28 January 2010. This date marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Council of Europe's Convention on the protection of personal data (Convention 108), the first legally binding international instrument in the field of data protection.

Today, the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) adopted an opinion on the European Commission's proposed legislative package establishing an Agency for the operational management of large-scale information technology (IT) systems in the area of freedom, security and justice. The Agency would be responsible for the operational management of Schengen Information System (SIS II), Visa Information System (VIS), Eurodac and possible other large-scale IT systems.

Following last week's agreement on the EU telecoms reform, nothing stands in the way for the ePrivacy Directive to enter into force. The formalities required for formal adoption will be undertaken in the coming weeks. The revised ePrivacy Directive^(*), as amended by the European Parliament and adopted by the Council must be implemented by the Member States within 18 months.

On 23 October, the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS), in cooperation with the European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA), organised a seminar entitled "Responding to data breaches". The seminar, which was mainly aimed at data controllers and data security practitioners, was attended by more than 80 participants.

Yesterday, the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) adopted an opinion on two Commission proposals aiming at providing the basis for the right of law enforcement authorities to have access to EURODAC under specific conditions.

Today, the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) adopted an opinion on the European Commission's proposed deployment plan for intelligent transport systems (ITS) in Europe that was adopted in December 2008 to accelerate and coordinate their deployment in road transport and their connection with other modes of transport (*).