Brussels, 25/06/2014 (Agence Europe) - The United States government has “undertaken” to legislate on the protection of personal data and to grant European citizens rights of recourse on American soil, as requested by the EU, American Justice Minister Eric Holder announced in Athens on Wednesday 25 June. This announcement was welcomed with great satisfaction by European Commissioner Viviane Reding, who is leaving for the European Parliament. “President Obama's government has undertaken to draft legislation to ensure the protection of personal data”, Holder told a press conference.
The agreement will give “European citizens the same right of access to the courts in the United States as American citizens” in the event of a problem in the use of their data, Holder added.
The EU, which insisted in early June that the US accept the European rules in this matter, described it as an “important step in the right direction”, according to a press release issued by European Commission Vice-President Viviane Reding, although there is more waiting time until this legislation is in place. (SP)