On 14 April 2016 the European Parliament officially adopted the legislative data protection package. On 25 January 2012 the European Commission proposed a general reform of EU rules on data protection in order to provide additional protection for the EU citizens` privacy in the Internet, and to create a high and uniform level of protection throughout the EU, and to get a momentum to the development of the European digital economy.
The legislative package includes the General Data Protection Regulation and the Directive on the Personal Data Processing in the field “Police and Justice”. All stakeholders, related to the topic of personal data protection, took part in the activity, which lasted four years. The negotiations between the Council and Parliament began in June 2015 and ended with a preliminary agreement of 15 December 2015. The Members of the European Parliament officially aproved the new rules on 16 April 2016.
The Reform is a response of the legislation to the challenges of the rapidly developing technology and will give the citizens more control over their personal information in the digital world of the Internet, social media, smartphones and global transfers. It will also create clarity for the Business by establishing uniform rules across the EU.
The Directive for transfers of data for police and court purposes will apply to cross-border data transfers within the EU, as well as for setting minimum standards for the processing of data for police purposes in each Member State.
The new legislative package will enter into force twenty days after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU. Its provisions will have direct effect in all EU member states two years after this date. Member States will have two years to transpose its provisions into national law.
