Brussels, 21/09/2012 (Agence Europe) - MEPS Sophie In't Veld and Marietje Schaake (ALDE/D66) of the Netherlands are calling for future free trade agreements with non-EU countries to contain privacy and data protection safeguards.
In't Veld and Schaake call on the Commission to verify that European companies operating in third countries are fully compliant with European privacy and data protection standards. “The European Union is increasingly acting as a global trading partner. We make more and more use of cloud computing and outsourcing. With these intensified trade relations with emerging economic powers, European standards on privacy and data protection are increasingly under pressure”, states In't Veld in a press release. In a letter to Commissioners Karel De Gucht (Trade) and Viviane Reding (Justice), D66 members underline their concern regarding the impact that the rise in trade with China, India and Russia could have on the private lives of European citizens. “In Europe we have pretty good legislation. Many of the emerging economies do not yet have adequate protection. Companies involved in international trade may find themselves confronted with rules and practices regarding privacy and data protection which are in conflict with EU law. This leads to legal uncertainty for both companies and EU citizens and it is a potential obstacle to free trade”, In't Veld explains. (EH/transl.jl)