Are new EU data protection rules better for businesses and citizens?

Next week, the Résidence Palace will host a debate on the EU’s progress towards agreeing new data protection rules. The event, organized by European Voice and sponsored by Telefónica, will analyse the progress made on the EU Data Protection Reform package adopted by the European Commission on 25 January 2012.

This Reform package comprises two legislative proposals: a general Regulation on data protection and a specific Directive on data protection in the area of police and justice. The two proposals have been discussed extensively in the European Parliament and the Council and have attracted the attention of many public and private stakeholders. In addition, the lobbying surrounding the legislative process has been exceptional.

The debate will gather the following panelists:

• Viviane Reding, European commissioner for justice, fundamenal rights and citizenship;
• Seán Kelly MEP, member of the committee on industry, research and energy, European Parliament;
• Ronan Dunne, CEO, Telefónica UK;
• Richard Szostak, member of private office of Commissioner Reding;
• and Joe McNamee, executive director, EDRi (European Digital Rights).
• You can read the biographies of the speakers here.

The event comes ahead of the crucial vote by the civil liberties committee in the European Parliament and just after a meeting of the EU’s national ministers for justice. It will offer an opportunity to assess how far the new rules will go to give citizens control over how their data is used and whether the new rules will make it easier for companies to operate in the digital domain.

You can click here to read the full programme and here to register for the debate.

We we will keep you posted on the outcomes of the debate, so stay tuned!