The Council of the European Union and the European Parliament have reached a provisional agreement on a new law aimed at improving cross-border enforcement of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The deal seeks to enhance cooperation among national data protection authorities and ensure swifter resolutions for citizens filing complaints.
“This is a big step toward improving cooperation between national data protection bodies when they enforce citizens’ rights under the GDPR,” said Krzysztof Gawkowski, Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Digital Affairs, who led negotiations on behalf of the Council.
The new regulation will introduce harmonized rules for handling cross-border complaints, including common standards for case admissibility and complaint procedures. Citizens across the EU will benefit from consistent criteria, regardless of where a complaint is filed.
To promote fairness, both complainants and investigated companies will have the right to be heard at key points in the process. Preliminary findings must be shared with both parties before a final decision is made.
The legislation sets firm deadlines to improve efficiency. Investigations must be completed within 15 months, with a possible 12-month extension for complex cases. Simpler cooperation procedures will be limited to 12 months.
A key feature of the reform is the introduction of an “early resolution mechanism,” allowing data protection authorities to close cases quickly when infringements are corrected and the complainant agrees.
To further reduce delays, the law encourages consensus among national authorities by requiring lead investigators to circulate key case summaries early in the process.
The provisional deal must now be formally adopted by both the Council and Parliament. Once enacted, the new law will strengthen GDPR enforcement and ensure citizens’ data rights are upheld more consistently across the EU.
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