20/12/2017 (Agence Europe) – On Wednesday 20 December, the European Commission recommended to the Council of the EU that it authorise the opening of negotiations for the signing of agreements between the EU and Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey on the transfer of personal data between Europol and the eight countries in question. The agreements will lay down clear rules on how personal data can be processed and transferred for the purposes of preventing and fighting terrorism and large-scale organised crime (see EUROPE 11886). The Council will now decide whether to authorise the launch of talks and to grant the Commission a negotiating mandate. (MF)