27/02/2017 (Agence Europe) – In a letter dated 22 February, the American Department of Justice has assured the European Commission that the protection for the personal data of Europeans provided for by the Privacy Shield mechanism, or the transatlantic framework agreement on the protection of data (which covers transfers in the fields of police and legal cooperation), will not be affected by the executive decree of 25 January aiming to reinforce the application of American immigration laws. This decree aims to exclude people who are not citizens of the United States or permanent legal residents from the protections offered by the law on the protection of personal information. The EU had expressed concern at the possible consequences of this (see EUROPE 11713) and wrote to the Trump administration on 7 February. (SP)