WIREDGOV

On Monday, 15 June, the Minister for Justice Dzintars Rasnačs chaired the meeting of the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council (JHA) in Luxembourg. During the meeting the EU Member States discussed legislation on data protection, set up of a European Public Prosecutor's Office and other issues.

Data protection

The Council reached agreement on the whole text of the general data protection regulationin order to begin negotiations with the European Parliament with a view to reaching overall agreement.

Latvia's minister for justice Dzintars Rasnačs said: "Today we have moved a significant step closer to a modernised and harmonised data protection framework for the European Union. I am very pleased that after more than 3 years of negotiations we have finally found a compromise on the text. The new regulation will substantially strengthen individual rights of our citizens to control their data and ensure a high standard of protection. I welcome the readiness of the European Parliament to begin trilogue negotiations already next week, which hopefully will mean that we can come to a rapid agreement."

A first trilogue with the Parliament is planned for 24 June 2015.

The incoming Luxembourg Presidency indicated that, in parallel to the negotiations on the regulation, works on the data protection directive in the law enforcement area would be accelerated with the aim to find a general approach in October.

Free movement of public documents

The Council reached a general approach on the draft regulation on promoting the free movement of citizens and businesses by simplifying the requirements for presenting certain public documents in the EU. This general approach will constitute the basis for negotiations with the European Parliament with a view to reaching overall agreement on the final text of the regulation.

EPPO

The Council expressed broad conceptual support on the text of the first 16 articles on the proposal regarding the setting up of a European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO). These articles include the most important provisions of the Regulation, namely all the rules on the organisation, structure and the functioning of the Office.

Other items

Without discussion, the Council adopted a decision authorising certain member states to accept, in the interest of the EU, the accession of Andorra and Singapore to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.

Press conference by Dzintars Rasnačs following the meeting

Justice and Home Affairs Councileu2015.lv

Contact

JĀNIS BĒRZIŅŠ

Spokesperson
+32 22383286
+32 473528013
janis.berzins@mfa.gov.lv