EDPS Inventory 2012 of legislative consultations: a challenging year ahead for data protection in the EU

The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) today sets out his priorities for 2012 in the area of legislative consultation by publishing his strategic planning document, the Inventory. Here, the EDPS identifies issues of strategic importance that will form the cornerstones of his consultation work for 2012, while not neglecting the importance of other legislative procedures where data protection is concerned.

Peter Hustinx, EDPS: "2012 will be a very demanding year. The EDPS will face the challenge of fulfilling an ever-increasing role in the legislative procedure and at the same time guarantee high-quality and well-appreciated contributions to it with limited resources. We have therefore developed a more strategic approach to legislative consultation, which is outlined in the Inventory."

The EDPS' central mission in the field of consultation is to give advice on three main areas: the revision of the legal framework for data protection, technological developments and the Digital Agenda, and further developing the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice. In addition, the EDPS has identified financial sector reform as an area of strategic importance for 2012.

Overview of the issues of strategic importance for the EDPS:

1. Towards a new legal framework for data
   - protectionRevision of the EU data protection framework
2. Technological developments and the Digital Agenda, IP rights and Internet
   - Pan-European framework for electronic identification, authentication and signature
   - Internet monitoring (e.g. enforcement of IP rights, takedown procedures)
   - Cloud computing services
   - eHealth
3. Further developing the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice
   - EU-PNR
   - EU-TFTS
   - Border controls
   - Review of the Data Retention Directive
   - Negotiations on agreements with third countries on data protection
4. Financial sector reform
   - Regulation and supervision of financial markets and actors

In order to better fulfil his advisory role, the EDPS will consider publishing guidelines on important technical or societal phenomena that affect personal data protection (such as 'naming and shaming' practices) or recurring data protection aspects of EU legislative initiatives (such as the provisions concerning exchanges of information).

(*) The Inventory forms an integrated part of the annual work cycle of the EDPS and sets out his approach in the area of legislative consultation for the upcoming year. It consists of two documents, an introductory document which sets out the EDPS strategic priorities for legislative consultation in 2012 and an annex of the relevant Commission proposals and other documents that have been recently adopted or that are programmed and require the attention of the EDPS.