During a four-day visit to the U.S. capital, MEPs focused on data privacy, preventing Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), women’s rights, visa policy, technology, and security issues.
In Washington, D.C., MEPs of the Civil Liberties Committee met with members of the House of Representatives and Senate working on privacy and women’s rights issues, including sponsors of different federal privacy acts; Ms Lina M. Khan, Chair of the Federal Trade Commission; senior representatives of the U.S. Courts administration; officials working on women rights, security, counter-terrorism and visa policy at the Department of State, the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); representatives from the Data Protection Review Court (DPRC) and Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI); and NGOs working on technology policy, human rights and the safety of children.
With respect to the draft Data Privacy Framework, LIBE Members recalled the position expressed in the Parliament resolution adopted last week, and supported by the majority of MEPs, that the transfer mechanism in its current shape does not sufficiently protect EU citizens’ rights, but appreciated the fruitful exchange with the U.S. counterparts increasing understanding and trust about the framework, especially as regards the soon-to-be established Data Protection Review Court (DPRC). They also stressed the importance of possible future US federal laws on privacy and child protection. Women’s rights were discussed mainly in the context of the US Supreme Court Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling and the impact of this case.
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After the visit, LIBE Chair and Head of the Delegation Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (S&D, Spain) said:
“The yearly LIBE Committee mission to Washington aims at fostering closer ties between the EU- US on Justice & Home Affairs issues. We are convinced that maintaining a strong cooperation between the EU and US is fundamental to enhance the transatlantic dialogue on protection of personal data, security and counterterrorism, visa reciprocity, and women’s rights.”
MEPs Javier ZARZALEJOS (EPP, Spain), Karlo RESSLER (EPP, Croatia), Birgit SIPPEL (S&D, Germany, Moritz KÖRNER (Renew, Germany), Gwendoline DELBOS-CORFIELD (Greens/EFA, France) and Tom VANDENDRIESSCHE (ID, Belgium) also participated in the visit.