Reform of EU rules on data protection makes progress at the Justice Council

"Today’s meeting with Justice ministers was an important one. I am pleased to say that the negotiations on the data protection Regulation took another big step forward today" said EU Justice Commissioner Martine Reicherts following the Justice Council in Luxembourg on 10 October.

Justice ministers agreed on the rules that stipulate how companies, governments and other organisations will have to handle personal data in the future. These include an obligation for foreign companies to nominate a representative in the EU, which will help data protection authorities in the Member States supervise data processing activities of companies whose headquarters are outside the Union. The aim is to ensure that these companies apply EU rules when handling the data of European citizens. Ministers also agreed to exempt small and medium-sized companies from the obligation to report how they process data. This is in line with one of the reform's central objectives: to cut red tape and build flexibility into the EU's future data protection rules.

Martine Reicherts said: "Companies need legal certainty and simplicity, and citizens need legal guarantees that their data is protected. I am glad to say that we made progress in that respect. I wish to congratulate the Italian Presidency on their excellent work."

Watch the Justice Council press conference here
Justice and Home Affairs Council 9-10 October 2014 in Luxembourg: MEMO/14/569