Common Fisheries Policy

Opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy, OJ C 151, 03.07.2009, p. 11

There are different reasons why data protection provisions in the context of this proposal are relevant. First, the proposal foresees the processing of various data, which in certain cases, can be considered as personal data. Moreover, the proposal also foresees transfers of these data and exchanges of information, both between Member States and with the Commission or the Community Fisheries Control Agency. The EDPS also notes that the proposal foresees the use of aggregated data in certain circumstances. All these aspects require respecting the data protection legal framework.

The EDPS welcomes that reference to privacy and data protection is made within the current proposal. However, some amendments are needed in order to provide clear requirements, both for the Member States and for the Commission to address the data protection aspects of the system.