During the EP plenary session (3-6 April 2017) in Strasbourg, MEPs debate a draft resolution so that the EU Commission ensure that the EU-US &ldquo;Privacy Shield&rdquo; for data transfers offers sufficient personal data protection. They are alarmed by recent revelations about surveillance activities and new rules allowing the US National Security Agency to share vast amounts of private data. Statements by Vera JOUROVA, Member of the EC in charge of Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, Axel VOSS (EPP, DE), Claude MORAES (S&amp;D, UK), Sophia IN'T VELD (ALDE, NL) and Judith SARGENTINI (Greens/EFA, NL), recorded on 05/04/2017.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

EU - USA (T)

MORAES, Claude (S&D, UK)

JOUROVÁ, Věra (EC)

SARGENTINI, Judith (Greens/EFA, NL)

IN 'T VELD, Sophia (Renew, NL)

protection of personal data (T)

reform of the UE Data Protection Framework (T)

VOSS, Axel (EPP, DE)

Adequacy of the protection afforded by the EU-US privacy Shield: extracts from the debate (recorded on 05/04/2017)

SOUNDBITE (English), V&#277;ra JOUROV&#193;, Member of the EC in charge of Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, <a></a>It is equally important that these rules also fully apply in practise. This is why our focus since the adoption of the decision has been on the effective implementation of this new framework. This involves several actors and I am happy to report that our data protection authorities and the United States authorities have cooperated closely in working out procedures to ensure a robust oversight and enforcement of these new rules.

SOUNDBITE (English), V&#277;ra JOUROV&#193;, Member of the EC in charge of Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, Let me make this point very clear. If we are face with any developments that could negatively affect the level of protection afforded under the privacy shield, the Commission will take its responsibilities and use all available mechanisms; be it review, suspension, revocation, repeal to promptly react.

SOUNDBITE (German), Axel VOSS (EPP, DE), It's extremely important that when it comes to small and medium size companies and start-ups that we give them legal certainty and legal basis, that we provide this when it comes to the Transatlantic Data Transfer, to ensure that there is proper data protection and I think that this is something that comes together in the Privacy Shield.

SOUNDBITE (German), Axel VOSS (EPP, DE), In comparison to the Safe Harbour agreement, then this is an enormous step forward that we could not have been able to expect ourselves and it goes beyond what we would be willing to give in our own member states.

SOUNDBITE (English), Claude MORAES (S&amp;D, UK), Why are we proposing this resolution? We are doing it not because with Privacy Shield that there are not being significant improvements, key improvements on Safe Harbour but because we want to ensure in the Parliament that Privacy Shield stands the test of time. That is doesn't have the weaknesses that would be proven difficult for the future.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sophia IN&apos;T VELD (ALDE, NL), We do not expect the US law to be identical but we do expect it to be essentially equivalent because that is what the judges have said. So that's not a party political request it's an obligation for the EU institutions and the European Commission is responsible here.

SOUNDBITE (Dutch), Judith SARGENTINI (Greens/EFA, NL), The trade issues have been dealt with through the EPP and the ECRm they wanted to help the companies at the cost of our citizens but we need to make sure that we have our friends on the right side. And so this type of lack of protection is not good for business because business will not be reliable and so I would ask you to support our amendment to which put the question mark on these negotiations.