Press conference during the plenary session of February in Strasbourg by Andrus ANSIP, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Digital Single Market, and Věra JOUROV&Aacute;, Member of the EC in charge of Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality on the &nbsp;EU-US data protection negotiations (ex-Safe Harbour).

JOUROVÁ, Věra (EC)

press conference

protection of personal data (T)

ANSIP, Andrus (Renew, EE)

EU-US data protection negotiations (ex-Safe Harbour): extracts from the press conference by Andrus ANSIP, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Digital Single Market, and Věra JOUROVÁ, Member of the EC

Soundbite (In ENGLISH) by Andrus Ansip, Vice-President of the EC in charge of the Digital Single Market: We have agreed with our US partners a new framework that will ensure the right checks and balances for our citizens. Commissioner Jourova, Vera, and her team have negotiated a mechanism which is robust and offers significant improvements compared to the previous scheme. The College gave today its green light to put in place this new deal.

Soundbite (In ENGLISH) by Andrus ANSIP, Vice-President of the EC in charge of the Digital Single Market: As a specific commitment under the new arrangement, the US will create the role of a special 'Ombudsperson' within the US State Department, who would follow-up complaints and enquiries by individuals on national security access, upon referral by EU data protection authorities referral by EU data protection authorities.

Soundbite (In ENGLISH) by Andrus ANSIP, Vice-President of the EC in charge of the Digital Single Market: On the commercial side we have obtained strong oversight by the US Department of Commerce and the Federal Trade Commission of companies' compliance with their obligations to protect EU personal data. We agreed that we will have an annual joint review which would give an opportunity to assess the situation, including its national security exemption.

Soundbite (In ENGLISH) by Věra JOUROVA, Member of the EC in charge of Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality: This new framework for transatlantic data flows protects the fundamental rights of Europeans and ensures legal certainty for businesses. The new arrangement lives up to the requirements of the European Court of Justice; it will also be a living mechanism which will be reviewed continuously to check whether it functions well.

Soundbite (In ENGLISH) by Věra JOUROVA, Member of the EC in charge of Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality:For the first time ever, the U.S. have given the EU binding assurances that the access of public authorities for law enforcement and national security will be subject to clear limitations, safeguard and oversight mechanism. The U.S. will provide written assurances notably from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence in the White House. This a unique step the U.S. have made in order to restore trust in our transatlantic relations; I appreciate they took this step, at the same time it is also clear that we will of course hold the U.S. accountable on the commitments they made.

Soundbite (In ENGLISH) by Věra JOUROVA, Member of the EC in charge of Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality: We achieved effective protection of Europeans rights; any citizen who considers that their data has been misused under the new scheme will benefit from several accessible and affordable dispute resolution mechanisms. Ideally and from the experience, the complaint will be resolved by the company itself; then there will be free of charge alternative dispute resolution.