Brussels, 12/03/2026 (Agence Europe) – The inter-institutional negotiations (trilogues) on the European Commission’s proposal to extend by two years the derogation from the ePrivacy Directive, which enables online communication platforms to detect child sexual abuse material, got under way on Thursday 12 March. Organised by the Cyprus Presidency of the EU Council the day after the adoption of the European Parliament’s negotiating mandate (see EUROPE 13826/6), the initial exchanges were not sufficient to reach a common position between the institutions. The text voted by the European Parliament introduces significant limits to the measures initially proposed, with a view to protecting personal data, a major concern for MEPs. Conversely, the EU Council aligned itself with the Commission’s position on 28 January, without making any substantial changes (see EUROPE 13796/11). The trilogues will therefore resume on Monday 16 March, in the hope of reaching a compromise. (JM)