On the dialogue on data protection and data flows with Japan: Joint statement by Vice-President Andrus Ansip and Commissioner Vĕra Jourová

EU News 54/2017

Hanover, 20 March 2017

Today, Vice-President Andrus Ansip and Commissioner Vĕra Jourová, together with the Japanese delegation, launched at the CeBIT 2017 fair the dialogue on data protection and data flows with Japan, to further EU-Japan bilateral cooperation on the data economy.

After the meeting with Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Hiroshige Seko, Special Advisor to the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) Naoki Ota, and Commissioner of the Personal Information Protection Commission Haruhi Kumazawa, Vice-President Ansip and Commissioner Jourová said:

"Today we discussed data flows and how data is an essential resource for economic growth, competitiveness and innovation. Together we call for close and regular exchanges between the EU and Japan on the data economy and increased cooperation for the free flow of data between the EU and Japan and ensuring high standards of data protection.

With the launch of the dialogue on data protection and data flows with Japan, today we are also taking a first important step to deliver on the promise we made earlier this year with the EU strategy on international data protection. With this strategy, we aim to facilitate commercial exchanges while promoting high data protection standards worldwide.

Japan is a key trading partner for the European Union. We are now working to bridge our data protection laws and will work together towards an adequacy decision, allowing for the free flow of personal data to countries with essentially equivalent data protection rules to those in the EU. This work will complement the future EU-Japan Free Trade Agreement and allow us to build on our mutual trust and cooperation."

Source and additional information:
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-17-690_en.htm?locale=en

Twitter: @EU_Commission URL

• Tweet