The European Union and the United States are to meet in Dublin today and tomorrow to discuss issues in the field of justice and home affairs.
EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding will represent the European Commission, while Justice Minister Alan Shatter will attend on behalf of the EU Presidency.
The US will be represented by Attorney General Eric Holder.
On the agenda is data protection.
From the EC press release:
“The EU and U.S. will assess progress made in the negotiations and further outstanding issues. Vice-President Reding is also seeking clarifications as to whether and how United States authorities are accessing and processing the data of European Union citizens using major U.S. online service providers.”
“The European Commission remains concerned by the question of EU citizens’ personal data being accessed and processed by United States authorities using major U.S. online service providers. The European Commission seeks clarifications on this issue. The Commission maintains that if U.S. law enforcement authorities want to access data of EU citizens on servers of U.S. companies, this should happen though formal channels, notably through the Mutual Legal Assistance Agreement which is in force since 2010. Access through other means should be excluded unless in clearly defined, exceptional and judicially reviewable situations.”
FIGHT!