EDPS publishes priorities and work programme for 2016



The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) plans to comment on the EU Commission’s Implementing Decision on EU-US data flows (Commission Communication COM(2015) 566); monitor developments for a new arrangement for transatlantic data transfers; and follow the EU Commission's work on ensuring that data protection is embedded in international agreements such as the EU-US Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).

In addition to the completion of the new EU data protection framework, the general Regulation and the Directive, the EDPS will advise the Commission on the review of Regulation 45/2001 on data protection rules for EU institutions and bodies.

The EDPS says that it will soon publish guidelines on proportionality in EU data protection law, and will contribute to the ongoing work related to the review of the e-Privacy Directive. Also, ‘data vaults’ and personal data stores are likely to be addressed.

Giovanni Buttarelli, EDPS, said: "In 2016, we will continue to work closely with the European Commission, the Council and the European Parliament in order to ensure that our advice is as timely and relevant as possible. By making our priorities public, we hope to help the relevant Commission services to better identify those initiatives on which the EDPS recommends an informal consultation at an early stage, as per our long-standing agreement."

PL&B has organised a Roundtable with EDPS in Brussels 9 March 2016. The agenda covers the most pressing issues for companies, such as:
1. Overview of the EDPS’s role
2. Towards a new digital ethics
3. Transferring personal data from the European Economic Area to the US and other third countries
4. A 'big data protection ecosystem'
5. The EDPS’s involvement in recent decisions of the Court of Justice of the European Union
6. Coherent enforcement of individual rights in the digital single market.
With agreement on the EU Data Protection Regulation now reached, this Roundtable will be an ideal opportunity to discuss with the EDPS its role as an international Data Protection Authority in the new legal environment.