Euro-MP fights for privacy protection for personal data

5.15.40pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 5th Sep 2006

The European Parliament on Wednesday will vote a report on the need for EU-level rules on protection of personal data processed for security purposes in the framework of European police and judicial cooperation. This would parallel the EU rules which already protect data processed for commercial purposes.

This Report makes important modifications to the proposed legislation by extending the scope, heightening controls on the storage and transmission of data and introducing penal sanctions for abuse.

Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP, Liberal Democrat European justice spokeswoman, commented:

"The European Parliament has been calling for data protection rules in the security field for years. While proper cooperation among Europe's law enforcement agencies to fight terrorism and organised crime is essential we cannot have a free-for-all without proper safeguards against abuse of data exchange."

"There is a huge number of EU and transatlantic initiatives such as transfer of air passenger and banking data, as well as the development of large-scale databases at the EU level to which EU law enforcement agencies will have access. I am deeply concerned that civil liberties will continue to be sacrificed if there is no comprehensive data privacy scheme."

"EU governments must urgently adopt this legislation and take on board Parliament's amendments. Without those, there is a very real risk that the Council will be adopting an empty instrument sorely lacking in essential safeguards."

Notes:

Sarah Ludford is 'rapporteur' on a proposal for an EU database whereby information on visa applicants would be shared by member states in order to stop visa-shopping, fraud etc. (the Visa Information System). It is also intended that police and intelligence services will have access to this data for the prevention and investigation of terrorism and serious crime.