Strasbourg, 27/09/2006 (Agence Europe) - On 27 September, the Parliament finally adopted the legislative resolution on the report by Martine Roure (PES, France) on the proposed framework decision of the Council on the protection of personal data dealt with in the framework of police and legal cooperation in criminal matters (EUROPE 9041 and 9221). Whereas the amended report had been adopted unanimously in June, the vote on the resolution had been postponed by request of Ms Roure, so that a firm commitment on the part of the Council in favour of the proposal could be obtained under the Finnish Presidency. According to Ms Roure, who addressed the plenary on Wednesday, the Finnish Presidency has "made its moral commitments reality", as a text which will take account of the opinion of the Parliament is to be presented early in 2007.
To date, only one 1995 directive covers the protection of personal data at European level, particularly those held by private companies and transmitted for commercial ends. However, questions related to public security, organised crime and police and legal cooperation (which fall under the third pillar) are not part of the scope of application of the directive. This means that no European legislation protects personal data in this area.
By adopting the consultation report of Martine Roure, the European Parliament is lending its support to a proposal which it has long been calling for and which aims to plug this gap, by reinforcing and bringing uniformity to the European principles of data protection. In particular, the MEPs stress the importance of the quality and validity of this data, and the role of the Member States, in avoiding any abuse or irregular use. In particular, it will be up to the Member States to "ensure that the quality of personal data is regularly verified", and to make sure that "data of a personal nature are not transferred to the competent authorities of third countries or to international bodies" if certain conditions are not met. The Member States must also ensure that the quality of personal data sent or made available by a third country "is subjected to a specific evaluation as soon as the data are received, and that their degree of preciseness and reliability is indicated", the MEPs note. Generally speaking, data related to non-suspects should be used only for the purposes for which they were gathered, for a limited period of time and with limited access and transmission options, the EP requests.