European Union: Adopted Council general approach on Regulation laying down additional procedural rules relating to the enforcement of GDPR

On 13 June 2024, the Council of the European Union agreed on a common position to enhance the enforcement of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) by improving cooperation between national data protection authorities. This new regulation aims to expedite the handling of cross-border complaints and investigations by harmonising admissibility requirements and clarifying procedural deadlines and steps. It also ensures that national data protection authorities can provide input during investigations and seek early consensus. Key elements of the Council's position include introducing specific timelines to accelerate the cooperation process, allowing for flexible application of enhanced cooperation procedures depending on the case's complexity, and implementing an early resolution mechanism to settle cases before initiating standard procedures. This mechanism can be used when the infringement has been addressed or an amicable settlement has been reached. The Council's agreement enables negotiations with the European Parliament to finalise the legislative text, aiming to resolve inefficiencies noted in handling cross-border data protection issues since the GDPR's implementation in May 2018.