Coordination of implementation Directive retention communications data is required 

The Article 29 – Working Party of the European data protection authorities call for the European Member States to coordinate the implementation of the Directive on the retention of electronic communications data. The Working Party has found that the ‘Directive on the retention of data generated or processed in connection with the provision of publicly available electronic communications services or of public communications networks’ leaves room for a different interpretation and implementation thereof in the Member States. Also, the necessary guarantees have not all been sufficiently specified. The Working Party deems it extremely important that the directive is interpreted and implemented equally in all Member Sates.

The Working Party emphasises the need for sufficiently adequate and specific guarantees in order to secure citizen’s rights, particularly with regard to the confidentiality of communication. An opinion of the Working Party stipulates what guarantees should be at least in place.

About the Article 29-Working Party
The Working Party derives its name from Article 29 of the European Privacy Directive 95/46/EC. All supervisory authorities in the field of data protection in the European Union take part in this Working Party that plays an important role in the establishment of European policy. The tasks of the Working Party contribute to the development of European standards and common interpretations and also, in a number of cases, to awareness at an international level. Further information about the Article 29-Working Party