We are glad to see how our research work contributes to EU law making!

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Yesterday the European Parliament adopted the Regulation on the free flow of non-personal data, which aims to remove obstacles to the free movement of non-personal data and will enter into force by the end of 2018: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-18-6001_en.htm

Our study on data location restrictions (SMART 2015/0054), conducted in collaboration with time.lex and tech4i2, provided evidence on the scope and magnitude of legal and non-legal barriers in Member States practices which hinder the free flow of non-personal data within the European Union in order to contribute to the sustainable development of a Digital Single Market. It provided also evidence about the costs of these barriers for private and public sector.

Publication of the study on “the future EU-UK relationship: options in the field of the protection of personal data for general processing activities and for processing for law enforcement purposes”

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PwC, time.lex and Spark Legal Network have completed the study on the future EU-UK relationship: options in the field of the protection of personal data for general processing activities and for processing for law enforcement purposes. This study was commissioned by the European Parliament’s Policy Department for Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs at the request of the LIBE Committee. It examines the available mechanisms for personal data transfers between the EU and the UK after Brexit. The study shows that the existing legal mechanisms and policy measures which are presently used to support the exchange of personal data between the EU and third countries can alleviate some of the concerns surrounding Brexit, but that none of these, in isolation or collectively, would be sufficient to permit a continuation of personal data flows and cooperation in relation to data protection on the same basis as today. Please see the factsheet for more information.

Spark now certified DPO services provider

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Spark Legal Network is happy to announce we are now certified to provide Data Protection Officer (DPO) services. We are now even better equipped to assist with any GDPR related queries and able to help ensure that your company fully complies with the new EU data protection requirements. We can help drafting policy notices, processor-controller agreements, personal data breach policies and other documents as well as suggest ways to improve datasecurity in your company and advise on Brexit related data protection issues. For more information, please contact us at: info@sparklegalnetwork.eu

New Study – Enforcement of State aid rules and decisions by national courts

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Spark Legal Network, in collaboration with the European University Institute, Ecorys and Caselex, is carrying out the study on the enforcement of State aid rules and decisions by national courts, for the European Commission (DG COMP).

The aim of the Study is to provide a comprehensive overview of the enforcement of State aid rules by national courts since 2007. The Study covers all 28 Member States and gathers information regarding the most relevant rulings adopted by national courts on State aid matters at all levels of jurisdiction, from first to last instance courts.

For further information about this project, please get in touch via email.

Publication of the Final Report of the “study to support the review of Directive 2003/98/EC on the re-use of public sector information”

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Deloitte, Open Evidence, WIK Consult, time.lex, the Lisbon Council and Spark Legal Network have completed the study to support the review of Directive 2003/98/EC on the re-use of public sector information, for the European Commission (DG CONNECT). Based on the best data available, this study provides an evaluation of the implementation the PSI Directive and of the changes introduced by revision of the PSI Directive in 2013. It also provides an assessment of the effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, coherence and added value of the PSI Directive and builds on this to offer some policy options and perspectives for the future.

Study on the future relationship between the UK and the EU following Brexit in the field of the protection of personal data for general processing activities and for processing for law enforcement purposes

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Spark Legal Network is participating in the study on the future relationship between the UK and the EU following Brexit in the field of the protection of personal data for general processing activities and for processing for law enforcement purposes (European Parliament’s LIBE Committee).

The objective of this study is to have an overview of the legal and institutional prerequisites for the continuation of exchanging and processing of personal data between the UK and the EU following Brexit and in view of a future agreement.

The study is expected to last 3 months. For further information about this project, please get in touch via email.

Study on assessing the independence and effectiveness of National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) in the field of energy

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Spark Legal Network, in collaboration with Groningen Centre of Energy Law and Trinomics BV, is carrying out the study on “Assessing the independence and effectiveness of National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) in the field of energy”.

The general objective of the study is to assess the independence of the national regulatory authorities in the field of energy and their effectiveness in performing key identified tasks in the following 12 Member States: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Spain. The outcome of the study will analyse the implementation practice and focus on issues encountered by NRAs both as regards their independence and their effectiveness. The study will strive to identify for each issue their causes and consequences.

The study is expected to last 10 months. For further information about this project, please get in touch via email.

Study to support the review of Directive 2003/98/EC on the re-use of public sector information

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Spark Legal Network, in collaboration with Deloitte, Open Evidence, WIK Consult and time.lex, has been carrying out the study to support the review of Directive 2003/98/EC on the re-use of public sector information, for the European Commission (DG CONNECT). The study involves the evaluation of the functioning of the PSI Directive based on the state of play regarding the re-use of public sector information in the 28 EU MS. It also includes an evaluation of the changes introduced by revision of the PSI Directive in 2013 and the interplay between the PSI Directive and other relevant pieces of legislation, such as the INSPIRE Directive. Based on the results of the evaluation, the study also assesses the expected impact of a limited number of policy options, and compares the different options.

For further information about this project, please get in touch via email.

Publication of the Final Report of the study “An evaluation of the anti-doping laws and practices in the EU Member States in light of the General Data Protection Regulation”.

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Tilburg University Institute for Law Technology and Society, and Spark Legal Network have completed the study “An evaluation of the anti-doping laws and practices in the EU Member States in light of the General Data Protection Regulation” for DG for Education and Culture. This study examined the relationship between anti-doping laws and practices in the EU and the European data protection framework, in particular the General Data Protection Regulation.

The research involved the conduct of legal desk research by national legal experts on the national laws regarding anti-doping and data protection in each of the 28 Member States. In addition, the study team interviewed the NADOs (National Anti-Doping Organisations) of 12 selected countries, a DPA (Data Protection Authority), WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency), EU Athletes, and one IF (International Federation).

Based on the results of the above research, the study team developed conclusions and provided recommendations regarding different possibilities to be explored in order to address the issue of the protection of personal data in the current system of anti-doping.

Call for applications for the FCP Annual Training on Competition Law and Economics 2017/2018, Second Edition

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The Florence Competition Programme (FCP), formerly known as ENTraNCE, is a project of the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies at the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence (Italy).

The FCP Annual Training targets in particular:

– Officials from National Competition Authorities and National Regulatory Authorities
– Practicing lawyers
– Economic consultants
– In-house legal counsels, managers and experts in public affairs

The main features of the programme:
– Advanced training on recent developments in competition law and economics
– 3 short residential training blocks (Thursday-Saturday morning) at the EUI campus, surrounded by the beautiful Tuscan hills near Florence
– Classes taught by leading academics and practitioners in the field of competition law and economics
– Interactive classes, including frontal lectures, group exercises and mock cases
– Online activities between the residential blocks
– Diploma released by the European University Institute, a unique international academic institution specialized in post-graduate studies

Online applications are open until 30th June 2017.

For further information concerning the FCP Annual Training, please visit our webpage.