The European Commission announced on 29th July that it had decided to send reasoned opinions to France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark, Spain and Austria for failure to notify all the measures necessary to implement the 1995 Data Protection Directive (the "Directive").
The reasoned opinions represent the second stage of formal infringement proceedings under the EC Treaty. The Member States concerned must respond to the Commission within two months, after which time, the Commission may take the matter to the European Court of Justice.
The Data Protection Directive, which should have been implemented by the Member States concerned by 25th October 1998, establishes a clear regulatory framework to ensure both a high level of protection for the privacy of individuals in all Member States and the free movement of personal data within the European Union. The EU has long regarded the Directive as being a cornerstone of its drive to promote
