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.

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.

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.

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.