FITUG e.V. Förderverein Informationstechnik und Gesellschaft

EU-US dispute on private data protection

------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
Date:          Tue, 13 Apr 1999 09:57:08
To:            ecup-list@kaapeli.fi
From:          Barbara Schleihagen <Eblida@nblc.nl>
Subject:       EU-US dispute on private data protection
Reply-to:      ecup-list@kaapeli.fi


The European Union and the United States came close to reaching an
agreement which would solve their dispute on private data protection,
avoiding any interruption in transatlantic exchanges of data.

After a meeting on 7 April, it was announced that proposals would be
made public in two or three weeks. The agreement of the EU Member
States would be necessary to endorse any American proposal but the
date for the EU/US summit on 21 June in order to find a solution was
maintained.

The dispute is about the implementation of a European directive which
enables the national authorities of an EU Member State to suspend the
transfer of data towards third countries if those countries do not
provide an adequate level of protection for private data. The
directive entered into force last October and has, to date, been
transposed into national legislation by seven of the fifteen Member
States. Countries such as Italy and Greece which previously did not
have any legislative provision where the first to implement.

The American approach, conversely, is based on principles of
auto-regulation, considered to be better suited to the information
sector which is constantly evolving. The private sector in
co-operation with the American administration is about to implement a
"safe harbour" in order to group together all companies which
undertake to comply with certain principles of protection of private
data. The purpose of the EU/US dialogue is for that arrangemment to be
recognised by the EU. 

The European Commission is to report on 19 April to the "Article 31
Committee" which supervises the implementation of the directive and
where national administrations are representd, and the American
Administration will consult industry once again.

(Source: Bulletin Quotitien Europe of Friday, 9 April 1999)

Best wishes,
Barbara Schleihagen
**********************************************************************
EBLIDA
Barbara Schleihagen, Director
Heidi Hogan, EU Policy Officer
P.O. Box 43300
NL-2504 AH The Hague
Tel: +31-70-309 06 08
Fax: +31-70-309 07 08
email: eblida@nblc.nl
http://www.eblida.org/


**********************************************************************
EBLIDA
Barbara Schleihagen, Director
Heidi Hogan, EU Policy Officer
P.O. Box 43300
NL-2504 AH The Hague
Tel: +31-70-309 06 08
Fax: +31-70-309 07 08
email: eblida@nblc.nl
http://www.eblida.org/