Provisions on data flows in the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement
23.5.2018
Question for written answer P-002756-18
to the Commission
Rule 130
Anne-Marie Mineur (GUE/NGL)
On 31 January 2018, the Brussels-based edition of the US political journal Politico leaked an unpublished proposal of the Commission on provisions for data flows and data protection in EU trade agreements. According to the proposal, the Commission will upgrade the provisions on data protection and privacy exception given in GATS XIV.
Unfortunately, there has been no official publication of this proposal since then. With the upcoming entry into force of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), data protection is a compelling issue in major trade agreements, especially in the upcoming Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
In the light of these developments, the Commission is asked to answer the following:
- 1.Does it intend to follow its own transparency rules and publish the proposal leaked in January 2018?
- 2.How does it envisage the inclusion of provisions on data protection in the Japan-EU EPA?
- 3.Can it explain why it has not yet upgraded the safeguards for privacy and data protection in the EU-Japan trade deal?