interactive GDPR 2016/0679 EN

1. Union or Member State law to which the data controller or processor is subject may restrict by way of a legislative measure the scope of the obligations and rights provided for in Articles 12 to 22 and Article 34, as well as Article 5 in so far as its provisions correspond to the rights and obligations provided for in Articles 12 to 22, when such a restriction respects the essence of the fundamental rights and freedoms and is a necessary and proportionate measure in a democratic society to safeguard:

(a)	national security;

(b)

defence;

(c)	public security;

(d)	the prevention, investigation, detection or prosecution of criminal offences or the execution of criminal penalties, including the safeguarding against and the prevention of threats to public security;

(e)	other important objectives of general public interest of the Union or of a Member State, in particular an important economic or financial interest of the Union or of a Member State, including monetary, budgetary and taxation a matters, public health and social security;

(f)	the protection of judicial independence and judicial proceedings;

(g)	the prevention, investigation, detection and prosecution of breaches of ethics for regulated professions;

(h)	a monitoring, inspection or regulatory function connected, even occasionally, to the exercise of official authority in the cases referred to in points (a) to (e) and (g);

(i)	the protection of the data subject or the rights and freedoms of others;

(j)	the enforcement of civil law claims.

2. In particular, any legislative measure referred to in paragraph 1 shall contain specific provisions at least, where relevant, as to:

(a)	the purposes of the processing or categories of processing;

(b)	the categories of personal_data;

(c)	the scope of the restrictions introduced;

(d)	the safeguards to prevent abuse or unlawful access or transfer;

(e)	the specification of the controller or categories of controllers;

(f)	the storage periods and the applicable safeguards taking into account the nature, scope and purposes of the processing or categories of processing;

(g)	the risks to the rights and freedoms of data subjects; and

(h)	the right of data subjects to be informed about the restriction, unless that may be prejudicial to the purpose of the restriction.

CHAPTER IV

Controller and processor

Section 1

General obligations

Article 40

Codes of conduct

1. The Member States, the supervisory authorities, the Board and the Commission shall encourage the drawing up of codes of conduct intended to contribute to the proper application of this Regulation, taking account of the specific features of the various processing sectors and the specific needs of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.

2. Associations and other bodies representing categories of controllers or processors may prepare codes of conduct, or amend or extend such codes, for the purpose of specifying the application of this Regulation, such as with regard to:

(a)	fair and transparent processing;

(b)	the legitimate interests pursued by controllers in specific contexts;

(c)	the collection of personal_data;

(d)	the pseudonymisation of personal_data;

(e)	the information provided to the public and to data subjects;

(f)	the exercise of the rights of data subjects;

(g)	the information provided to, and the protection of, children, and the manner in which the consent of the holders of parental responsibility over children is to be obtained;

(h)	the measures and procedures referred to in Articles 24 and 25 and the measures to ensure security of processing referred to in Article 32;

(i)	the notification of personal_data breaches to supervisory authorities and the communication of such personal_data breaches to data subjects;

(j)	the transfer of personal_data to third countries or international_organisations; or

(k)	out-of-court proceedings and other dispute resolution procedures for resolving disputes between controllers and data subjects with regard to processing, without prejudice to the rights of data subjects pursuant to Articles 77 and 79.

3. In addition to adherence by controllers or processors subject to this Regulation, codes of conduct approved pursuant to paragraph 5 of this Article and having general validity pursuant to paragraph 9 of this Article may also be adhered to by controllers or processors that are not subject to this Regulation pursuant to Article 3 in order to provide appropriate safeguards within the framework of personal_data transfers to third countries or international_organisations under the terms referred to in point (e) of Article 46(2). Such controllers or processors shall make binding and enforceable commitments, via contractual or other legally binding instruments, to apply those appropriate safeguards including with regard to the rights of data subjects.

4. A code of conduct referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article shall contain mechanisms which enable the body referred to in Article 41(1) to carry out the mandatory monitoring of compliance with its provisions by the controllers or processors which undertake to apply it, without prejudice to the tasks and powers of supervisory authorities competent pursuant to Article 55 or 56.

5. Associations and other bodies referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article which intend to prepare a code of conduct or to amend or extend an existing code shall submit the draft code, amendment or extension to the supervisory_authority which is competent pursuant to Article 55. The supervisory_authority shall provide an opinion on whether the draft code, amendment or extension complies with this Regulation and shall approve that draft code, amendment or extension if it finds that it provides sufficient appropriate safeguards.

6. Where the draft code, or amendment or extension is approved in accordance with paragraph 5, and where the code of conduct concerned does not relate to processing activities in several Member States, the supervisory_authority shall register and publish the code.

7. Where a draft code of conduct relates to processing activities in several Member States, the supervisory_authority which is competent pursuant to Article 55 shall, before approving the draft code, amendment or extension, submit it in the procedure referred to in Article 63 to the Board which shall provide an opinion on whether the draft code, amendment or extension complies with this Regulation or, in the situation referred to in paragraph 3 of this Article, provides appropriate safeguards.

8. Where the opinion referred to in paragraph 7 confirms that the draft code, amendment or extension complies with this Regulation, or, in the situation referred to in paragraph 3, provides appropriate safeguards, the Board shall submit its opinion to the Commission.

9. The Commission may, by way of implementing acts, decide that the approved code of conduct, amendment or extension submitted to it pursuant to paragraph 8 of this Article have general validity within the Union. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure set out in Article 93(2).

10. The Commission shall ensure appropriate publicity for the approved codes which have been decided as having general validity in accordance with paragraph 9.

11. The Board shall collate all approved codes of conduct, amendments and extensions in a register and shall make them publicly available by way of appropriate means.

Article 42

Certification

1. The Member States, the supervisory authorities, the Board and the Commission shall encourage, in particular at Union level, the establishment of data protection certification mechanisms and of data protection seals and marks, for the purpose of demonstrating compliance with this Regulation of processing operations by controllers and processors. The specific needs of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises shall be taken into account.

2. In addition to adherence by controllers or processors subject to this Regulation, data protection certification mechanisms, seals or marks approved pursuant to paragraph 5 of this Article may be established for the purpose of demonstrating the existence of appropriate safeguards provided by controllers or processors that are not subject to this Regulation pursuant to Article 3 within the framework of personal_data transfers to third countries or international_organisations under the terms referred to in point (f) of Article 46(2). Such controllers or processors shall make binding and enforceable commitments, via contractual or other legally binding instruments, to apply those appropriate safeguards, including with regard to the rights of data subjects.

3. The certification shall be voluntary and available via a process that is transparent.

4. A certification pursuant to this Article does not reduce the responsibility of the controller or the processor for compliance with this Regulation and is without prejudice to the tasks and powers of the supervisory authorities which are competent pursuant to Article 55 or 56.

5. A certification pursuant to this Article shall be issued by the certification bodies referred to in Article 43 or by the competent supervisory_authority, on the basis of criteria approved by that competent supervisory_authority pursuant to Article 58(3) or by the Board pursuant to Article 63. Where the criteria are approved by the Board, this may result in a common certification, the European Data Protection Seal.

6. The controller or processor which submits its processing to the certification mechanism shall provide the certification body referred to in Article 43, or where applicable, the competent supervisory_authority, with all information and access to its processing activities which are necessary to conduct the certification procedure.

7. Certification shall be issued to a controller or processor for a maximum period of three years and may be renewed, under the same conditions, provided that the relevant requirements continue to be met. Certification shall be withdrawn, as applicable, by the certification bodies referred to in Article 43 or by the competent supervisory_authority where the requirements for the certification are not or are no longer met.

8. The Board shall collate all certification mechanisms and data protection seals and marks in a register and shall make them publicly available by any appropriate means.

Article 45

Transfers on the basis of an adequacy decision

1. A transfer of personal_data to a third country or an international_organisation may take place where the Commission has decided that the third country, a territory or one or more specified sectors within that third country, or the international_organisation in question ensures an adequate level of protection. Such a transfer shall not require any specific authorisation.

2. When assessing the adequacy of the level of protection, the Commission shall, in particular, take account of the following elements:

(a)

the rule of law, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, relevant legislation, both general and sectoral, including concerning public security, defence, national security and criminal law and the access of public authorities to personal_data, as well as the implementation of such legislation, data protection rules, professional rules and security measures, including rules for the onward transfer of personal_data to another third country or international_organisation which are complied with in that country or international_organisation, case-law, as well as effective and enforceable data subject rights and effective administrative and judicial redress for the data subjects whose personal_data are being transferred;

(b)

the existence and effective functioning of one or more independent supervisory authorities in the third country or to which an international_organisation is subject, with responsibility for ensuring and enforcing compliance with the data protection rules, including adequate enforcement powers, for assisting and advising the data subjects in exercising their rights and for cooperation with the supervisory authorities of the Member States; and

(c)

the international commitments the third country or international_organisation concerned has entered into, or other obligations arising from legally binding conventions or instruments as well as from its participation in multilateral or regional systems, in particular in relation to the protection of personal_data.

3. The Commission, after assessing the adequacy of the level of protection, may decide, by means of implementing act, that a third country, a territory or one or more specified sectors within a third country, or an international_organisation ensures an adequate level of protection within the meaning of paragraph 2 of this Article. The implementing act shall provide for a mechanism for a periodic review, at least every four years, which shall take into account all relevant developments in the third country or international_organisation. The implementing act shall specify its territorial and sectoral application and, where applicable, identify the supervisory_authority or authorities referred to in point (b) of paragraph 2 of this Article. The implementing act shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 93(2).

4. The Commission shall, on an ongoing basis, monitor developments in third countries and international_organisations that could affect the functioning of decisions adopted pursuant to paragraph 3 of this Article and decisions adopted on the basis of Article 25(6) of Directive 95/46/EC.

5. The Commission shall, where available information reveals, in particular following the review referred to in paragraph 3 of this Article, that a third country, a territory or one or more specified sectors within a third country, or an international_organisation no longer ensures an adequate level of protection within the meaning of paragraph 2 of this Article, to the extent necessary, repeal, amend or suspend the decision referred to in paragraph 3 of this Article by means of implementing acts without retro-active effect. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 93(2).

On duly justified imperative grounds of urgency, the Commission shall adopt immediately applicable implementing acts in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 93(3).

6. The Commission shall enter into consultations with the third country or international_organisation with a view to remedying the situation giving rise to the decision made pursuant to paragraph 5.

7. A decision pursuant to paragraph 5 of this Article is without prejudice to transfers of personal_data to the third country, a territory or one or more specified sectors within that third country, or the international_organisation in question pursuant to Articles 46 to 49.

8. The Commission shall publish in the Official Journal of the European Union and on its website a list of the third countries, territories and specified sectors within a third country and international_organisations for which it has decided that an adequate level of protection is or is no longer ensured.

9. Decisions adopted by the Commission on the basis of Article 25(6) of Directive 95/46/EC shall remain in force until amended, replaced or repealed by a Commission Decision adopted in accordance with paragraph 3 or 5 of this Article.

Article 46

Transfers subject to appropriate safeguards

1. In the absence of a decision pursuant to Article 45(3), a controller or processor may transfer personal_data to a third country or an international_organisation only if the controller or processor has provided appropriate safeguards, and on condition that enforceable data subject rights and effective legal remedies for data subjects are available.

2. The appropriate safeguards referred to in paragraph 1 may be provided for, without requiring any specific authorisation from a supervisory_authority, by:

(a)	a legally binding and enforceable instrument between public authorities or bodies;

(b)	binding_corporate_rules in accordance with Article 47;

(c)	standard data protection clauses adopted by the Commission in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 93(2);

(d)	standard data protection clauses adopted by a supervisory_authority and approved by the Commission pursuant to the examination procedure referred to in Article 93(2);

(e)	an approved code of conduct pursuant to Article 40 together with binding and enforceable commitments of the controller or processor in the third country to apply the appropriate safeguards, including as regards data subjects' rights; or

(f)	an approved certification mechanism pursuant to Article 42 together with binding and enforceable commitments of the controller or processor in the third country to apply the appropriate safeguards, including as regards data subjects' rights.

3. Subject to the authorisation from the competent supervisory_authority, the appropriate safeguards referred to in paragraph 1 may also be provided for, in particular, by:

(a)	contractual clauses between the controller or processor and the controller, processor or the recipient of the personal_data in the third country or international_organisation; or

(b)	provisions to be inserted into administrative arrangements between public authorities or bodies which include enforceable and effective data subject rights.

4. The supervisory_authority shall apply the consistency mechanism referred to in Article 63 in the cases referred to in paragraph 3 of this Article.

5. Authorisations by a Member State or supervisory_authority on the basis of Article 26(2) of Directive 95/46/EC shall remain valid until amended, replaced or repealed, if necessary, by that supervisory_authority. Decisions adopted by the Commission on the basis of Article 26(4) of Directive 95/46/EC shall remain in force until amended, replaced or repealed, if necessary, by a Commission Decision adopted in accordance with paragraph 2 of this Article.

Article 47

Binding corporate rules

1. The competent supervisory_authority shall approve binding_corporate_rules in accordance with the consistency mechanism set out in Article 63, provided that they:

(a)	are legally binding and apply to and are enforced by every member concerned of the group_of_undertakings, or group of enterprises engaged in a joint economic activity, including their employees;

(b)	expressly confer enforceable rights on data subjects with regard to the processing of their personal_data; and

(c)	fulfil the requirements laid down in paragraph 2.

2. The binding_corporate_rules referred to in paragraph 1 shall specify at least:

(a)	the structure and contact details of the group_of_undertakings, or group of enterprises engaged in a joint economic activity and of each of its members;

(b)	the data transfers or set of transfers, including the categories of personal_data, the type of processing and its purposes, the type of data subjects affected and the identification of the third country or countries in question;

(c)	their legally binding nature, both internally and externally;

(d)

the application of the general data protection principles, in particular purpose limitation, data minimisation, limited storage periods, data quality, data protection by design and by default, legal basis for processing, processing of special categories of personal_data, measures to ensure data security, and the requirements in respect of onward transfers to bodies not bound by the binding_corporate_rules;

(e)

the rights of data subjects in regard to processing and the means to exercise those rights, including the right not to be subject to decisions based solely on automated processing, including profiling in accordance with Article 22, the right to lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory_authority and before the competent courts of the Member States in accordance with Article 79, and to obtain redress and, where appropriate, compensation for a breach of the binding_corporate_rules;

(f)

the acceptance by the controller or processor established on the territory of a Member State of liability for any breaches of the binding_corporate_rules by any member concerned not established in the Union; the controller or the processor shall be exempt from that liability, in whole or in part, only if it proves that that member is not responsible for the event giving rise to the damage;

(g)	how the information on the binding_corporate_rules, in particular on the provisions referred to in points (d), (e) and (f) of this paragraph is provided to the data subjects in addition to Articles 13 and 14;

(h)

the tasks of any data protection officer designated in accordance with Article 37 or any other person or entity in charge of the monitoring compliance with the binding_corporate_rules within the group_of_undertakings, or group of enterprises engaged in a joint economic activity, as well as monitoring training and complaint-handling;

(i)	the complaint procedures;

(j)

the mechanisms within the group_of_undertakings, or group of enterprises engaged in a joint economic activity for ensuring the verification of compliance with the binding_corporate_rules. Such mechanisms shall include data protection audits and methods for ensuring corrective actions to protect the rights of the data subject. Results of such verification should be communicated to the person or entity referred to in point (h) and to the board of the controlling undertaking of a group_of_undertakings, or of the group of enterprises engaged in a joint economic activity, and should be available upon request to the competent supervisory_authority;

(k)	the mechanisms for reporting and recording changes to the rules and reporting those changes to the supervisory_authority;

(l)

the cooperation mechanism with the supervisory_authority to ensure compliance by any member of the group_of_undertakings, or group of enterprises engaged in a joint economic activity, in particular by making available to the supervisory_authority the results of verifications of the measures referred to in point (j);

(m)

the mechanisms for reporting to the competent supervisory_authority any legal requirements to which a member of the group_of_undertakings, or group of enterprises engaged in a joint economic activity is subject in a third country which are likely to have a substantial adverse effect on the guarantees provided by the binding_corporate_rules; and

(n)	the appropriate data protection training to personnel having permanent or regular access to personal_data.

3. The Commission may specify the format and procedures for the exchange of information between controllers, processors and supervisory authorities for binding_corporate_rules within the meaning of this Article. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure set out in Article 93(2).

Article 48

Transfers or disclosures not authorised by Union law

Any judgment of a court or tribunal and any decision of an administrative authority of a third country requiring a controller or processor to transfer or disclose personal_data may only be recognised or enforceable in any manner if based on an international agreement, such as a mutual legal assistance treaty, in force between the requesting third country and the Union or a Member State, without prejudice to other grounds for transfer pursuant to this Chapter.

Article 50

International cooperation for the protection of personal_data

In relation to third countries and international_organisations, the Commission and supervisory authorities shall take appropriate steps to:

(a)	develop international cooperation mechanisms to facilitate the effective enforcement of legislation for the protection of personal_data;

(b)

provide international mutual assistance in the enforcement of legislation for the protection of personal_data, including through notification, complaint referral, investigative assistance and information exchange, subject to appropriate safeguards for the protection of personal_data and other fundamental rights and freedoms;

(c)	engage relevant stakeholders in discussion and activities aimed at furthering international cooperation in the enforcement of legislation for the protection of personal_data;

(d)	promote the exchange and documentation of personal_data protection legislation and practice, including on jurisdictional conflicts with third countries.

CHAPTER VI

Independent supervisory authorities

Section 1

Independent status

Article 57

Tasks

1. Without prejudice to other tasks set out under this Regulation, each supervisory_authority shall on its territory:

(a)	monitor and enforce the application of this Regulation;

(b)	promote public awareness and understanding of the risks, rules, safeguards and rights in relation to processing. Activities addressed specifically to children shall receive specific attention;

(c)	advise, in accordance with Member State law, the national parliament, the government, and other institutions and bodies on legislative and administrative measures relating to the protection of natural persons' rights and freedoms with regard to processing;

(d)	promote the awareness of controllers and processors of their obligations under this Regulation;

(e)	upon request, provide information to any data subject concerning the exercise of their rights under this Regulation and, if appropriate, cooperate with the supervisory authorities in other Member States to that end;

(f)

handle complaints lodged by a data subject, or by a body, organisation or association in accordance with Article 80, and investigate, to the extent appropriate, the subject matter of the complaint and inform the complainant of the progress and the outcome of the investigation within a reasonable period, in particular if further investigation or coordination with another supervisory_authority is necessary;

(g)	cooperate with, including sharing information and provide mutual assistance to, other supervisory authorities with a view to ensuring the consistency of application and enforcement of this Regulation;

(h)	conduct investigations on the application of this Regulation, including on the basis of information received from another supervisory_authority or other public authority;

(i)	monitor relevant developments, insofar as they have an impact on the protection of personal_data, in particular the development of information and communication technologies and commercial practices;

(j)	adopt standard contractual clauses referred to in Article 28(8) and in point (d) of Article 46(2);

(k)	establish and maintain a list in relation to the requirement for data protection impact assessment pursuant to Article 35(4);

(l)	give advice on the processing operations referred to in Article 36(2);

(m)	encourage the drawing up of codes of conduct pursuant to Article 40(1) and provide an opinion and approve such codes of conduct which provide sufficient safeguards, pursuant to Article 40(5);

(n)	encourage the establishment of data protection certification mechanisms and of data protection seals and marks pursuant to Article 42(1), and approve the criteria of certification pursuant to Article 42(5);

(o)	where applicable, carry out a periodic review of certifications issued in accordance with Article 42(7);

(p)	draft and publish the criteria for accreditation of a body for monitoring codes of conduct pursuant to Article 41 and of a certification body pursuant to Article 43;

(q)	conduct the accreditation of a body for monitoring codes of conduct pursuant to Article 41 and of a certification body pursuant to Article 43;

(r)	authorise contractual clauses and provisions referred to in Article 46(3);

(s)	approve binding_corporate_rules pursuant to Article 47;

(t)	contribute to the activities of the Board;

(u)	keep internal records of infringements of this Regulation and of measures taken in accordance with Article 58(2); and

(v)	fulfil any other tasks related to the protection of personal_data.

2. Each supervisory_authority shall facilitate the submission of complaints referred to in point (f) of paragraph 1 by measures such as a complaint submission form which can also be completed electronically, without excluding other means of communication.

3. The performance of the tasks of each supervisory_authority shall be free of charge for the data subject and, where applicable, for the data protection officer.

4. Where requests are manifestly unfounded or excessive, in particular because of their repetitive character, the supervisory_authority may charge a reasonable fee based on administrative costs, or refuse to act on the request. The supervisory_authority shall bear the burden of demonstrating the manifestly unfounded or excessive character of the request.

Article 58

Powers

1. Each supervisory_authority shall have all of the following investigative powers:

(a)	to order the controller and the processor, and, where applicable, the controller's or the processor's representative to provide any information it requires for the performance of its tasks;

(b)	to carry out investigations in the form of data protection audits;

(c)	to carry out a review on certifications issued pursuant to Article 42(7);

(d)	to notify the controller or the processor of an alleged infringement of this Regulation;

(e)	to obtain, from the controller and the processor, access to all personal_data and to all information necessary for the performance of its tasks;

(f)	to obtain access to any premises of the controller and the processor, including to any data processing equipment and means, in accordance with Union or Member State procedural law.

2. Each supervisory_authority shall have all of the following corrective powers:

(a)	to issue warnings to a controller or processor that intended processing operations are likely to infringe provisions of this Regulation;

(b)	to issue reprimands to a controller or a processor where processing operations have infringed provisions of this Regulation;

(c)	to order the controller or the processor to comply with the data subject's requests to exercise his or her rights pursuant to this Regulation;

(d)	to order the controller or processor to bring processing operations into compliance with the provisions of this Regulation, where appropriate, in a specified manner and within a specified period;

(e)	to order the controller to communicate a personal_data breach to the data subject;

(f)	to impose a temporary or definitive limitation including a ban on processing;

(g)	to order the rectification or erasure of personal_data or restriction of processing pursuant to Articles 16, 17 and 18 and the notification of such actions to recipients to whom the personal_data have been disclosed pursuant to Article 17(2) and Article 19;

(h)	to withdraw a certification or to order the certification body to withdraw a certification issued pursuant to Articles 42 and 43, or to order the certification body not to issue certification if the requirements for the certification are not or are no longer met;

(i)	to impose an administrative fine pursuant to Article 83, in addition to, or instead of measures referred to in this paragraph, depending on the circumstances of each individual case;

(j)	to order the suspension of data flows to a recipient in a third country or to an international_organisation.

3. Each supervisory_authority shall have all of the following authorisation and advisory powers:

(a)	to advise the controller in accordance with the prior consultation procedure referred to in Article 36;

(b)	to issue, on its own initiative or on request, opinions to the national parliament, the Member State government or, in accordance with Member State law, to other institutions and bodies as well as to the public on any issue related to the protection of personal_data;

(c)	to authorise processing referred to in Article 36(5), if the law of the Member State requires such prior authorisation;

(d)	to issue an opinion and approve draft codes of conduct pursuant to Article 40(5);

(e)	to accredit certification bodies pursuant to Article 43;

(f)	to issue certifications and approve criteria of certification in accordance with Article 42(5);

(g)	to adopt standard data protection clauses referred to in Article 28(8) and in point (d) of Article 46(2);

(h)	to authorise contractual clauses referred to in point (a) of Article 46(3);

(i)	to authorise administrative arrangements referred to in point (b) of Article 46(3);

(j)	to approve binding_corporate_rules pursuant to Article 47.

4. The exercise of the powers conferred on the supervisory_authority pursuant to this Article shall be subject to appropriate safeguards, including effective judicial remedy and due process, set out in Union and Member State law in accordance with the Charter.

5. Each Member State shall provide by law that its supervisory_authority shall have the power to bring infringements of this Regulation to the attention of the judicial authorities and where appropriate, to commence or engage otherwise in legal proceedings, in order to enforce the provisions of this Regulation.

6. Each Member State may provide by law that its supervisory_authority shall have additional powers to those referred to in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3. The exercise of those powers shall not impair the effective operation of Chapter VII.

Article 62

Joint operations of supervisory authorities

1. The supervisory authorities shall, where appropriate, conduct joint operations including joint investigations and joint enforcement measures in which members or staff of the supervisory authorities of other Member States are involved.

2. Where the controller or processor has establishments in several Member States or where a significant number of data subjects in more than one Member State are likely to be substantially affected by processing operations, a supervisory_authority of each of those Member States shall have the right to participate in joint operations. The supervisory_authority which is competent pursuant to Article 56(1) or (4) shall invite the supervisory_authority of each of those Member States to take part in the joint operations and shall respond without delay to the request of a supervisory_authority to participate.

3. A supervisory_authority may, in accordance with Member State law, and with the seconding supervisory_authority's authorisation, confer powers, including investigative powers on the seconding supervisory_authority's members or staff involved in joint operations or, in so far as the law of the Member State of the host supervisory_authority permits, allow the seconding supervisory_authority's members or staff to exercise their investigative powers in accordance with the law of the Member State of the seconding supervisory_authority. Such investigative powers may be exercised only under the guidance and in the presence of members or staff of the host supervisory_authority. The seconding supervisory_authority's members or staff shall be subject to the Member State law of the host supervisory_authority.

4. Where, in accordance with paragraph 1, staff of a seconding supervisory_authority operate in another Member State, the Member State of the host supervisory_authority shall assume responsibility for their actions, including liability, for any damage caused by them during their operations, in accordance with the law of the Member State in whose territory they are operating.

5. The Member State in whose territory the damage was caused shall make good such damage under the conditions applicable to damage caused by its own staff. The Member State of the seconding supervisory_authority whose staff has caused damage to any person in the territory of another Member State shall reimburse that other Member State in full any sums it has paid to the persons entitled on their behalf.

6. Without prejudice to the exercise of its rights vis-à-vis third parties and with the exception of paragraph 5, each Member State shall refrain, in the case provided for in paragraph 1, from requesting reimbursement from another Member State in relation to damage referred to in paragraph 4.

7. Where a joint operation is intended and a supervisory_authority does not, within one month, comply with the obligation laid down in the second sentence of paragraph 2 of this Article, the other supervisory authorities may adopt a provisional measure on the territory of its Member State in accordance with Article 55. In that case, the urgent need to act under Article 66(1) shall be presumed to be met and require an opinion or an urgent binding decision from the Board pursuant to Article 66(2).

Section 2

Consistency

Article 91

Existing data protection rules of churches and religious associations

1. Where in a Member State, churches and religious associations or communities apply, at the time of entry into force of this Regulation, comprehensive rules relating to the protection of natural persons with regard to processing, such rules may continue to apply, provided that they are brought into line with this Regulation.

2. Churches and religious associations which apply comprehensive rules in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article shall be subject to the supervision of an independent supervisory_authority, which may be specific, provided that it fulfils the conditions laid down in Chapter VI of this Regulation.

CHAPTER X

Delegated acts and implementing acts

Article 92

Exercise of the delegation

1. The power to adopt delegated acts is conferred on the Commission subject to the conditions laid down in this Article.

2. The delegation of power referred to in Article 12(8) and Article 43(8) shall be conferred on the Commission for an indeterminate period of time from 24 May 2016.

3. The delegation of power referred to in Article 12(8) and Article 43(8) may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision of revocation shall put an end to the delegation of power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force.

4. As soon as it adopts a delegated act, the Commission shall notify it simultaneously to the European Parliament and to the Council.

5. A delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 12(8) and Article 43(8) shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed by either the European Parliament or the Council within a period of three months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by three months at the initiative of the European Parliament or of the Council.

Article 96

Relationship with previously concluded Agreements

International agreements involving the transfer of personal_data to third countries or international_organisations which were concluded by Member States prior to 24 May 2016, and which comply with Union law as applicable prior to that date, shall remain in force until amended, replaced or revoked.

Article 99

Entry into force and application

1. This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

2. It shall apply from 25 May 2018.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 27 April 2016.

For the European Parliament

The President

M. SCHULZ

For the Council

The President

J.A. HENNIS-PLASSCHAERT

(1) OJ C 229, 31.7.2012, p. 90.

(2) OJ C 391, 18.12.2012, p. 127.

(3) Position of the European Parliament of 12 March 2014 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and position of the Council at first reading of 8 April 2016 (not yet published in the Official Journal). Position of the European Parliament of 14 April 2016.

(4) Directive 95/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 1995 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal_data and on the free movement of such data (OJ L 281, 23.11.1995, p. 31).

(5) Commission Recommendation of 6 May 2003 concerning the definition of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (C(2003) 1422) (OJ L 124, 20.5.2003, p. 36).

(6) Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal_data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data (OJ L 8, 12.1.2001, p. 1).

(7) Directive (EU) 2016/680 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal_data by competent authorities for the purposes of prevention, investigation, detection or prosecution of criminal offences or the execution of criminal penalties, and the free movement of such data and repealing Council Framework Decision 2008/977/JHA (see page 89 of this Official Journal).

(8) Directive 2000/31/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2000 on certain legal aspects of information_society_services, in particular electronic commerce, in the Internal Market (‘Directive on electronic commerce’) (OJ L 178, 17.7.2000, p. 1).

(9) Directive 2011/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2011 on the application of patients' rights in cross-border healthcare (OJ L 88, 4.4.2011, p. 45).

(10) Council Directive 93/13/EEC of 5 April 1993 on unfair terms in consumer contracts (OJ L 95, 21.4.1993, p. 29).

(11) Regulation (EC) No 1338/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on Community statistics on public health and health and safety at work (OJ L 354, 31.12.2008, p. 70).

(12) Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission's exercise of implementing powers (OJ L 55, 28.2.2011, p. 13).

(13) Regulation (EU) No 1215/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2012 on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters (OJ L 351, 20.12.2012, p. 1).

(14) Directive 2003/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 November 2003 on the re-use of public sector information (OJ L 345, 31.12.2003, p. 90).

(15) Regulation (EU) No 536/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on clinical trials on medicinal products for human use, and repealing Directive 2001/20/EC (OJ L 158, 27.5.2014, p. 1).

(16) Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2009 on European statistics and repealing Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1101/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the transmission of data subject to statistical confidentiality to the Statistical Office of the European Communities, Council Regulation (EC) No 322/97 on Community Statistics, and Council Decision 89/382/EEC, Euratom establishing a Committee on the Statistical Programmes of the European Communities (OJ L 87, 31.3.2009, p. 164).

(17) OJ C 192, 30.6.2012, p. 7.

(18) Directive 2002/58/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 July 2002 concerning the processing of personal_data and the protection of privacy in the electronic communications sector (Directive on privacy and electronic communications) (OJ L 201, 31.7.2002, p. 37).

(19) Directive (EU) 2015/1535 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 September 2015 laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical regulations and of rules on Information Society services (OJ L 241, 17.9.2015, p. 1).

(20) Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 July 2008 setting out the requirements for accreditation and market surveillance relating to the marketing of products and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 339/93 (OJ L 218, 13.8.2008, p. 30).

(21) Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2001 regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents (OJ L 145, 31.5.2001, p. 43).

whereas

(7) Those developments require a strong and more coherent data protection framework in the Union, backed by strong enforcement, given the importance of creating the trust that will allow the digital economy to develop across the internal market.
Natural persons should have control of their own personal_data.
Legal and practical certainty for natural persons, economic operators and public authorities should be enhanced.

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(13) In order to ensure a consistent level of protection for natural persons throughout the Union and to prevent divergences hampering the free movement of personal_data within the internal market, a Regulation is necessary to provide legal certainty and transparency for economic operators, including micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, and to provide natural persons in all Member States with the same level of legally enforceable rights and obligations and responsibilities for controllers and processors, to ensure consistent monitoring of the processing of personal_data, and equivalent sanctions in all Member States as well as effective cooperation between the supervisory authorities of different Member States.
The proper functioning of the internal market requires that the free movement of personal_data within the Union is not restricted or prohibited for reasons connected with the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal_data.
To take account of the specific situation of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, this Regulation includes a derogation for organisations with fewer than 250 employees with regard to record-keeping.
In addition, the Union institutions and bodies, and Member States and their supervisory authorities, are encouraged to take account of the specific needs of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in the application of this Regulation.
The notion of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises should draw from Article 2 of the Annex to Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC (5).

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(80) Where a controller or a processor not established in the Union is processing personal_data of data subjects who are in the Union whose processing activities are related to the offering of goods or services, irrespective of whether a payment of the data subject is required, to such data subjects in the Union, or to the monitoring of their behaviour as far as their behaviour takes place within the Union, the controller or the processor should designate a representative, unless the processing is occasional, does not include processing, on a large scale, of special categories of personal_data or the processing of personal_data relating to criminal convictions and offences, and is unlikely to result in a risk to the rights and freedoms of natural persons, taking into account the nature, context, scope and purposes of the processing or if the controller is a public authority or body.
The representative should act on behalf of the controller or the processor and may be addressed by any supervisory_authority.
The representative should be explicitly designated by a written mandate of the controller or of the processor to act on its behalf with regard to its obligations under this Regulation.
The designation of such a representative does not affect the responsibility or liability of the controller or of the processor under this Regulation.
Such a representative should perform its tasks according to the mandate received from the controller or processor, including cooperating with the competent supervisory authorities with regard to any action taken to ensure compliance with this Regulation.
The designated representative should be subject to enforcement proceedings in the event of non-compliance by the controller or processor.

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(86) The controller should communicate to the data subject a personal_data breach, without undue delay, where that personal_data breach is likely to result in a high risk to the rights and freedoms of the natural person in order to allow him or her to take the necessary precautions.
The communication should describe the nature of the personal_data breach as well as recommendations for the natural person concerned to mitigate potential adverse effects.
Such communications to data subjects should be made as soon as reasonably feasible and in close cooperation with the supervisory_authority, respecting guidance provided by it or by other relevant authorities such as law-enforcement authorities.
For example, the need to mitigate an immediate risk of damage would call for prompt communication with data subjects whereas the need to implement appropriate measures against continuing or similar personal_data breaches may justify more time for communication.

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(88) In setting detailed rules concerning the format and procedures applicable to the notification of personal_data breaches, due consideration should be given to the circumstances of that breach, including whether or not personal_data had been protected by appropriate technical protection measures, effectively limiting the likelihood of identity fraud or other forms of misuse.
Moreover, such rules and procedures should take into account the legitimate interests of law-enforcement authorities where early disclosure could unnecessarily hamper the investigation of the circumstances of a personal_data breach.

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(104) In line with the fundamental values on which the Union is founded, in particular the protection of human rights, the Commission should, in its assessment of the third country, or of a territory or specified sector within a third country, take into account how a particular third country respects the rule of law, access to justice as well as international human rights norms and standards and its general and sectoral law, including legislation concerning public security, defence and national security as well as public order and criminal law.
The adoption of an adequacy decision with regard to a territory or a specified sector in a third country should take into account clear and objective criteria, such as specific processing activities and the scope of applicable legal standards and legislation in force in the third country.
The third country should offer guarantees ensuring an adequate level of protection essentially equivalent to that ensured within the Union, in particular where personal_data are processed in one or several specific sectors.
In particular, the third country should ensure effective independent data protection supervision and should provide for cooperation mechanisms with the Member States' data protection authorities, and the data subjects should be provided with effective and enforceable rights and effective administrative and judicial redress.

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(108) In the absence of an adequacy decision, the controller or processor should take measures to compensate for the lack of data protection in a third country by way of appropriate safeguards for the data subject.
Such appropriate safeguards may consist of making use of binding_corporate_rules, standard data protection clauses adopted by the Commission, standard data protection clauses adopted by a supervisory_authority or contractual clauses authorised by a supervisory_authority.
Those safeguards should ensure compliance with data protection requirements and the rights of the data subjects appropriate to processing within the Union, including the availability of enforceable data subject rights and of effective legal remedies, including to obtain effective administrative or judicial redress and to claim compensation, in the Union or in a third country.
They should relate in particular to compliance with the general principles relating to personal_data processing, the principles of data protection by design and by default.
Transfers may also be carried out by public authorities or bodies with public authorities or bodies in third countries or with international_organisations with corresponding duties or functions, including on the basis of provisions to be inserted into administrative arrangements, such as a memorandum of understanding, providing for enforceable and effective rights for data subjects.
Authorisation by the competent supervisory_authority should be obtained when the safeguards are provided for in administrative arrangements that are not legally binding.

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(110) A group_of_undertakings, or a group of enterprises engaged in a joint economic activity, should be able to make use of approved binding_corporate_rules for its international transfers from the Union to organisations within the same group_of_undertakings, or group of enterprises engaged in a joint economic activity, provided that such corporate rules include all essential principles and enforceable rights to ensure appropriate safeguards for transfers or categories of transfers of personal_data.

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(114) In any case, where the Commission has taken no decision on the adequate level of data protection in a third country, the controller or processor should make use of solutions that provide data subjects with enforceable and effective rights as regards the processing of their data in the Union once those data have been transferred so that that they will continue to benefit from fundamental rights and safeguards.

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(115) Some third countries adopt laws, regulations and other legal acts which purport to directly regulate the processing activities of natural and legal persons under the jurisdiction of the Member States.
This may include judgments of courts or tribunals or decisions of administrative authorities in third countries requiring a controller or processor to transfer or disclose personal_data, and which are not based on an international agreement, such as a mutual legal assistance treaty, in force between the requesting third country and the Union or a Member State.
The extraterritorial application of those laws, regulations and other legal acts may be in breach of international law and may impede the attainment of the protection of natural persons ensured in the Union by this Regulation.
Transfers should only be allowed where the conditions of this Regulation for a transfer to third countries are met.
This may be the case, inter alia, where disclosure is necessary for an important ground of public interest recognised in Union or Member State law to which the controller is subject.

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(116) When personal_data moves across borders outside the Union it may put at increased risk the ability of natural persons to exercise data protection rights in particular to protect themselves from the unlawful use or disclosure of that information.
At the same time, supervisory authorities may find that they are unable to pursue complaints or conduct investigations relating to the activities outside their borders.
Their efforts to work together in the cross-border context may also be hampered by insufficient preventative or remedial powers, inconsistent legal regimes, and practical obstacles like resource constraints.
Therefore, there is a need to promote closer cooperation among data protection supervisory authorities to help them exchange information and carry out investigations with their international counterparts.
For the purposes of developing international cooperation mechanisms to facilitate and provide international mutual assistance for the enforcement of legislation for the protection of personal_data, the Commission and the supervisory authorities should exchange information and cooperate in activities related to the exercise of their powers with competent authorities in third countries, based on reciprocity and in accordance with this Regulation.

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(127) Each supervisory_authority not acting as the lead supervisory_authority should be competent to handle local cases where the controller or processor is established in more than one Member State, but the subject matter of the specific processing concerns only processing carried out in a single Member State and involves only data subjects in that single Member State, for example, where the subject matter concerns the processing of employees' personal_data in the specific employment context of a Member State.
In such cases, the supervisory_authority should inform the lead supervisory_authority without delay about the matter.
After being informed, the lead supervisory_authority should decide, whether it will handle the case pursuant to the provision on cooperation between the lead supervisory_authority and other supervisory authorities concerned (‘one-stop-shop mechanism’), or whether the supervisory_authority which informed it should handle the case at local level.
When deciding whether it will handle the case, the lead supervisory_authority should take into account whether there is an establishment of the controller or processor in the Member State of the supervisory_authority which informed it in order to ensure effective enforcement of a decision vis-à-vis the controller or processor.
Where the lead supervisory_authority decides to handle the case, the supervisory_authority which informed it should have the possibility to submit a draft for a decision, of which the lead supervisory_authority should take utmost account when preparing its draft decision in that one-stop-shop mechanism.

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(129) In order to ensure consistent monitoring and enforcement of this Regulation throughout the Union, the supervisory authorities should have in each Member State the same tasks and effective powers, including powers of investigation, corrective powers and sanctions, and authorisation and advisory powers, in particular in cases of complaints from natural persons, and without prejudice to the powers of prosecutorial authorities under Member State law, to bring infringements of this Regulation to the attention of the judicial authorities and engage in legal proceedings.
Such powers should also include the power to impose a temporary or definitive limitation, including a ban, on processing.
Member States may specify other tasks related to the protection of personal_data under this Regulation.
The powers of supervisory authorities should be exercised in accordance with appropriate procedural safeguards set out in Union and Member State law, impartially, fairly and within a reasonable time.
In particular each measure should be appropriate, necessary and proportionate in view of ensuring compliance with this Regulation, taking into account the circumstances of each individual case, respect the right of every person to be heard before any individual measure which would affect him or her adversely is taken and avoid superfluous costs and excessive inconveniences for the persons concerned.
Investigatory powers as regards access to premises should be exercised in accordance with specific requirements in Member State procedural law, such as the requirement to obtain a prior judicial authorisation.
Each legally binding measure of the supervisory_authority should be in writing, be clear and unambiguous, indicate the supervisory_authority which has issued the measure, the date of issue of the measure, bear the signature of the head, or a member of the supervisory_authority authorised by him or her, give the reasons for the measure, and refer to the right of an effective remedy.
This should not preclude additional requirements pursuant to Member State procedural law.
The adoption of a legally binding decision implies that it may give rise to judicial review in the Member State of the supervisory_authority that adopted the decision.

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(133) The supervisory authorities should assist each other in performing their tasks and provide mutual assistance, so as to ensure the consistent application and enforcement of this Regulation in the internal market.
A supervisory_authority requesting mutual assistance may adopt a provisional measure if it receives no response to a request for mutual assistance within one month of the receipt of that request by the other supervisory_authority.

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(137) There may be an urgent need to act in order to protect the rights and freedoms of data subjects, in particular when the danger exists that the enforcement of a right of a data subject could be considerably impeded.
A supervisory_authority should therefore be able to adopt duly justified provisional measures on its territory with a specified period of validity which should not exceed three months.

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(148) In order to strengthen the enforcement of the rules of this Regulation, penalties including administrative fines should be imposed for any infringement of this Regulation, in addition to, or instead of appropriate measures imposed by the supervisory_authority pursuant to this Regulation.
In a case of a minor infringement or if the fine likely to be imposed would constitute a disproportionate burden to a natural person, a reprimand may be issued instead of a fine.
Due regard should however be given to the nature, gravity and duration of the infringement, the intentional character of the infringement, actions taken to mitigate the damage suffered, degree of responsibility or any relevant previous infringements, the manner in which the infringement became known to the supervisory_authority, compliance with measures ordered against the controller or processor, adherence to a code of conduct and any other aggravating or mitigating factor.
The imposition of penalties including administrative fines should be subject to appropriate procedural safeguards in accordance with the general principles of Union law and the Charter, including effective judicial protection and due process.

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(171) Directive 95/46/EC should be repealed by this Regulation.
Processing already under way on the date of application of this Regulation should be brought into conformity with this Regulation within the period of two years after which this Regulation enters into force.
Where processing is based on consent pursuant to Directive 95/46/EC, it is not necessary for the data subject to give his or her consent again if the manner in which the consent has been given is in line with the conditions of this Regulation, so as to allow the controller to continue such processing after the date of application of this Regulation.
Commission decisions adopted and authorisations by supervisory authorities based on Directive 95/46/EC remain in force until amended, replaced or repealed.

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