EDPS calls on the Council to make urgent progress on Data Protection Reform

The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) fully appreciates the progress made by the Greek Presidency of the Council on the reform of the EU Data Protection legislation. In particular, we welcome the Council's objective of reaching a general position on the package so as to start negotiations with the Parliament well before the end of 2014. Articles 7 and 8 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU provide for the protection of the rights of everyone in the EU and the proposed data protection reform is vital in safeguarding these.

However, despite some progress, there are still a number of issues for which solutions must be found. The EDPS urges the Council to make substantive progress on these issues as soon as possible and encourages it not to weaken what is currently a robust and comprehensive proposal for a Regulation. In addition, the Council must ensure that the Regulation remains inclusive of the public sector, furthers the harmonisation and consistency of EU data protection through the one-stop-shop principle and introduces the principle of accountability and instruments for stronger enforcement, in order to better ensure compliance with the legislation. Finally, progress should also be made with regard to the proposed Directive on data protection, in the context of criminal law enforcement.

The EDPS considers it imperative that EU rules on data protection are reformed urgently, not only to provide more consistency and uniformity in data protection across the EU, but most of all to ensure that the fundamental rights to privacy and data protection of all individuals in the EU are effectively protected. EU citizens are more aware than ever of the importance of their personal data, and increasingly sceptical of the ability of governments to protect them. The Council must act now and it must act boldly to restore public trust in EU data protection policy.