LOC15:38
12:38 GMT
BRUSSELS, May 26 (KUNA) -- The European Commission adopted here Wednesday a
draft mandate to negotiate a personal data protection agreement between the
European Union and the United States when cooperating to fight terrorism or
crime.
The aim is to ensure a high level of protection of personal information
like passenger data or financial information that is transferred as part of
transatlantic cooperation in criminal matters, said the European Commission in
a statement.
"The agreement would enhance the right of citizens to access, rectify or
delete data, where appropriate. EU citizens would receive a right to seek
judicial redress in the US if their data is unlawfully processed," it noted.
The EU Council of Ministers must approve the negotiating mandate before
talks can begin and the European Parliament will have to give its consent to
the outcome of the negotiations.
However, the EU and US still have different approaches in protecting data,
leading to some controversy in the past when negotiating information exchange
agreements such as SWIFT agreement and passenger name records.
The European Parliament rejected the last SWIFT agreement in February,
which is why a new agreement has to be negotiated.
When rejecting the previous agreement, the EP criticised the fact that it
allowed transfers of data not only on specific suspects but on large numbers
of people "in bulk."
The Belgium-based Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Transactions
(SWIFT) handles 80 percent of the world's electronic financial transfers from
208 countries.
Since September 11, 2001 and subsequent terrorist attacks in Europe, the EU
and US have stepped up police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters.
"Fundamental rights must be protected and respected at all times. I want an
EU-US agreement that protects personal data rights while fighting crime and
terrorism," said Viviane Reding, EU's Commissioner for Justice and Fundamental
Rights. (end)
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