EU Initiates Procedure to Ensure Uninhibited and Secure Data Exchange Between Europe and the UK
The European Commission has announced the initiation of the process to adopt new adequacy decisions for data flow between the European Economic Area and the United Kingdom. This move comes after the assessment of the UK's Data Use and Access Act, which received Royal assent on 19 June 2025.
The assessment concluded that the UK's legal framework provides data protection safeguards equivalent to those in the EU. The new draft decisions for the adequacy decisions are based on this assessment of the new rules in the Data Use and Access Act.
Henna Virkkunen, EC vice-president, stated that data protection is a cornerstone of EU values and the UK is a key partner. She reiterated that the decision by the European Commission reaffirms the commitment to both privacy and the continued partnership with the UK.
Michael McGrath, EC Commissioner, emphasized that the unobstructed flow of personal data between the EU and the UK is essential for businesses, public authorities, and individuals. He highlighted that the open data flow between the two regions is crucial for supporting commerce, research, and effective cooperation in criminal justice and law enforcement.
The European Commission has extended the adequacy decisions for data flow between the EU and the UK until June 2026, allowing for an assessment of the UK's Data Use and Access Act. During this period, the EU executive will seek approval from a committee composed of representatives of the EU Member States before adopting the decisions.
The draft decisions for the adequacy decisions will be transmitted to the European Data Protection Board for its opinion. The European Data Protection Board will provide its opinion on the draft decisions as part of the adoption procedure. The European Parliament also has a right of scrutiny over adequacy decisions.
More information on adequacy decisions can be found online. For those seeking a deeper understanding of the process, the European Data Protection Board's website offers detailed insights into the adoption procedure and the role of the Board in the process.
The step taken by the European Commission ensures that the vital link for data flow between the EU and the UK remains open. The Commission's determination that the UK continues to uphold rigorous data protection standards underscores the importance of the partnership between the two regions. As the process unfolds, both the EU and the UK look forward to maintaining this partnership, fostering cooperation, and further strengthening the data protection framework.
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