Today, the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) adopted his Opinion on the proposed package for a reform of the EU rules on data protection. This package was adopted by the Commission on 25 January 2012 and includes a Regulation with general rules on data protection and a Directive with specific data protection rules for the law enforcement sector.
On the package, Peter Hustinx, EDPS, says: “The proposed Regulation constitutes a huge step forward for the right to data protection in Europe. However, we are unfortunately still far from a comprehensive set of data protection rules on national and EU level in all areas of EU policy. The proposals are disappointing in the law enforcement area, and they leave many existing EU data protection instruments untouched, such as the data protection rules for the EU institutions and bodies and also all the specific law enforcement instruments.”
The EDPS welcomes the Regulation as an instrument directly applicable in the Member States, because it will do away with many complexities and inconsistencies stemming from the current national implementing laws. The rules will strengthen the rights of individuals and make controllers more accountable for how they handle personal data. Furthermore, the role and powers of national supervisory authorities (alone and together) are effectively reinforced. Here to read more.
