Legal Reform of European Union Data Protection

Achievement the Digital Single Market, one of the objectives of European Union, needs a specific legal framework. In this regard, it was adopted the General Data Protection Regulation 679/2016/EU (the GDPR) which will come into force on 25 May 2018 and will replace the existing Data Protection Directive 95/46/EC. The main goal of the GDPR is to harmonise data protection across the EU and to enable individuals to regain control of their personal data, according to Mr. J.-Ph. Albrecht, member of European Parliament. The application of the GDPR will bring significant changes to European data protection law; therefore those rules include data breach notification, coordinated enforcement, strengthened consent, clarify the "right to be forgotten" together with serious financial penalties for non-compliance. The GDPR also expands the territorial and material scope of EU data protection law thus non-EU companies will have to apply the same rules as EU companies when offering services in the EU. In conclusion, the Regulation strengthens fundamental rights in the digital age and facilitates business by simplifying rules for companies in the Digital Single Market.