EDPS welcomes European Council’s conclusions as a clear step forward for stronger data protection in the EU
The EDPS welcomes the clear commitment made by the European Council last Friday to ensure the protection and promotion of fundamental rights, including data protection, in further developing the area of freedom, security and justice over the next years. The Council placed also great emphasis on the adoption of a strong EU General Data Protection framework by 2015.
In a recent letter to Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, the EDPS had called for the importance of data protection in building the European area of freedom, security and justice, but also for the EU’s wider agenda for growth and investment in the digital economy. The EU should adopt a strong and modernised data protection framework as soon as possible, and implement effectively privacy and data protection considerations in all new policies and legislation.
The European Council's conclusions of 27 June 2014 are a clear step forward in the right direction.
Background information
The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) is an independent supervisory authority devoted to protecting personal data and privacy and promoting good practice in the EU institutions and bodies. He does so by:
- monitoring the EU administration's processing of personal data;
- advising on policies and legislation that affect privacy;
- cooperating with similar authorities to ensure consistent data protection.