Brussels, 07/01/2005 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has approved a new set of standard, optional, contractual clauses which businesses can use to ensure adequate safeguards when personal data is transferred from the EU to non-EU countries. The new clauses, submitted by a business coalition, will ensure better application of data protection directive 95/46/EC. The Commission will make a progress report in 2005 and change the system, where necessary, in 2006.