The United Kingdom government unveiled its vision on Wednesday 23 May of its future relations with the European Union in the areas of data protection and research and communication.
On data protection, UK Prime Minister Theresa May had already suggested, in a speech at the Mansion House in early March (see EUROPE 11973), that EU-United Kingdom relations after the post-Brexit transition period could be the subject of an adequacy arrangement. She made clear, however, that she wanted to see much more.
Stating that the country will uphold the highest standards and comply with the data protection regulation (GDPR) that will be in force from Friday 25 May, the UK government wants a “new model” and a new data “agreement”.
This agreement will ensure high levels of protection for the flow of data between the EU and the UK. It will be based on the principle of adequacy and will provide for on-going regulatory cooperation through an appropriate on-going role for the UK regulator on the European Data Protection Board set up by the GDPR.
The agreement will also ensure that British companies and individuals will be effectively represented under the EU’s “one-stop shop” put in place by the GDPR to resolve disputes and protect citizens across the EU.
“It will benefit EU businesses operating in the UK to avoid two parallel process”, the UK government document states.
The European Commission would be empowered to conduct an assessment of the agreement to ensure that the UK complies with its provisions.
Research and Innovation. In the area of research and innovation, the UK government wants a “pact” with the EU that would put in place a structured dialogue.
The pact would manage access to programmes and infrastructure, underpinned by wider agreements and arrangements on issues such as data sharing and protection, researcher mobility and intellectual property.
The UK government would like to explore a close association with Euratom based on the Swiss precedent. A nuclear fusion cooperation agreement was signed with Switzerland in 1978 and Switzerland makes a financial contribution.
As part of any association after 2020 with the Horizon Europe research programme (see EUROPE 12018), the UK would want to continue to host and support European research infrastructures.
The proposals on data protection may be viewed at https://bit.ly/2GGZ25a and those on research and innovation may be viewed at https://bit.ly/2LqLjTI. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)