Brussels, 11/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - The reform of European data protection rules concerns the American administration, which fears a negative impact on transatlantic cooperation and difficulties for the member states sharing data with the USA as part of police operations. This is the message that was given at a press meeting in Brussels on Wednesday 10 October by Cameron Kerry from the department of trade, David Vladeck from the office of consumer protection, and Bruce Swartz form the department of justice.
On 25 January, Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Viviane Reding tabled a large reform of the European personal data protection rules, including a general regulation and a specific directive on judicial and police cooperation affairs, replacing a 2008 framework decision of the Council. It is this directive and these arrangements on relations with third countries, including the USA, that arouse the greatest concerns. Swartz especially criticises the directive's arrangements entailing European data only being transmitted to countries with adequate systems of data protection and with sufficient safeguards similar to the European regimes. This passage had been taken by Reding from Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström, and today poses questions for the Americans who fear not fitting the criteria of “adequate safeguard”. These arrangements could clearly slow down the sharing of data and, at the same time, cooperation in precise operations - those occurring in the framework of Interpol, for example - Swartz again warned. The American and European authorities work together nearly every day and base themselves on the use of personal data to identify suspects, the representative said, mentioning for example operations against paedopornography, and these directive arrangements could considerably slow down the authorities' work. The three men were participating in a two day meeting at the European Parliament in Brussels on the enormous reform of the 1995 rules. (SP/transl.fl)