Today the European Parliament adopted the Data Protection Reform Package, which was presented by the European Commission in January 2012. On this occasion, European Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans, Vice-President in charge of the Digital Single Market Andrus Ansip, and Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, Věra Jourová made the following statement: “The European Commission welcomes the final adoption of the new EU data protection rules by the European Parliament. Today’s vote marks a historic achievement, and the culmination of over three years of hard work with Member States, Members of the European Parliament, business, civil society and other stakeholders. These new laws will ensure that the fundamental right to personal data protection is upheld for all European citizens and they will help stimulate the Digital Single Market in the EU by fostering trust in online services by consumers and certainty for businesses. (…) Our work in creating first-rate data protection rules providing for the world’s highest standard of protection is complete. Now we must work together to implement these new standards across the EU so citizens and businesses can enjoy the benefits as soon as possible.”
The reform includes the General Data Protection Regulation, and the Data Protection Directive for Police and Criminal Justice Authorities, which will allow for smoother exchange of information between Member States’ police and judicial authorities. Once the reform is adopted, Member States have two years to apply the Data Protection Regulation and to transpose and implement the Directive concerning Police and Criminal Justice authorities.
