Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2019/493 amending Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 as regards a verification procedure related to infringements of rules on the protection of personal data in the context of elections to the European Parliament

Summary:

Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 March 2019 regarding financial sanctions against European political parties or foundations that use infringements of data protection rules to deliberately influence or attempt to influence the outcome of elections to the European Parliament.

Further information:

Regulation No 1141/2014 on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations was introduced to increase the visibility, recognition, effectiveness, transparency and accountability of European political parties and their affiliated political foundations. However, the existing rules do not allow to effectively dissuade and sanction abuses of data protection rules which may affect the democratic debate and free elections.

In February 2018, the European Commission issued a Recommendation on enhancing the European nature and efficient conduct of the 2019 elections to the European Parliament, addressed to Member States and to European and national political parties, calling for increased transparency on their respective affiliation and links. The Regulation also called on those political parties to help raise citizens' awareness on the issues at stake at Union level and on how they intend to address them during the upcoming legislature.

The proposed Regulation was presented by the Commission on 12 September 2018. Following the adoption of their respective negotiating positions, the co-legislators reached an informal agreement on a compromise text on 16 January 2019. The Parliament formally endorsed the draft regulation 12 March, followed by the Council on 19 March.

• Primary Source

News

Politico, 16/01/2019: EU agrees to fine parties for data misuse in elections https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-agrees-to-fine-parties-for-data-misuse-in-elections/

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Official

EUR-Lex: COM(2018)636: Proposal for a Regulation amending Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 as regards a verification procedure related to infringements of rules on the protection of personal data in the context of elections to the European Parliament https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2018:636:FIN

European Parliament: Legislative Observatory: Procedure File on proposal for protection of personal data in the context of elections to the European Parliament https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2018/0336(COD)

European Parliament: Legislative Train: Regulation amending Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 as regards a verification procedure related to infringements of personal data in the context of the European Parliament elections http://www.europarl.europa.eu/legislative-train/theme-area-of-justice-and-fundamental-rights/file-personal-data-in-the-context-of-the-european-parliament-elections

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 19/12/2018: Preventing misuse of personal data to influence EP elections: Council ready for negotiations with Parliament https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2018/12/19/preventing-misuse-of-personal-data-to-influence-ep-elections-council-ready-for-negotiations-with-parliament/

European Parliament: Press Release, 16/01/2019: EU elections: new rules to prevent breaches of data used to influence elections http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20190116IPR23603/

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 25/01/2019: EU set to adopt new rules to prevent misuse of personal data in EP elections https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2019/01/25/eu-set-to-adopt-new-rules-to-prevent-misuse-of-personal-data-in-ep-elections/

European Parliament: Press Release, 12/03/2019: Personal data misuse in political campaigns: new rules for financial sanctions http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20190308IPR30923/

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 19/03/2019: EP elections: EU adopts new rules to prevent misuse of personal data by European political parties https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2019/03/19/ep-elections-eu-adopts-new-rules-to-prevent-misuse-of-personal-data-by-european-political-parties/

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