Data protection reform package: Final steps

A package to reform the EU legal framework on data protection (DP) was presented by the European Commission in January 2012. Aimed at strengthening citizens' rights uniformly while reducing burdens for companies and public authorities, the package takes a comprehensive approach, including a general regulation and a directive concerning data protection for police and law enforcement purposes. Following negotiations towards a second-reading agreement, compromises on both texts have been reached, and votes in plenary, scheduled for the April I session, are now required to confirm them.