CWT signs ECPAT’s Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children in Travel and Tourism

Minneapolis. Ahead of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, CWT, the business-to-business-for-employees (B2B4E) travel management platform, is proud to sign The Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism (The Code). The Code is a partnership initiative between the travel and tourism sector and ECPAT, a global non-profit organization working to protect children from trafficking, sexual exploitation, and online abuse. By becoming a member of The Code, travel and tourism companies gain access to tools and resources to use in their daily operations. CWT is an active and longstanding supporter in the fight against human trafficking, dedicated to The Code’s efforts to raise awareness externally, engage employees internally, develop more effective policies, research, and build tools against human trafficking and child sexual exploitation. “Every child in the world has the right to grow up free from the fear of exploitation and have a decent and safe life. It is paramount that we all stay vigilant, and hopefully businesses like ours can help make that a reality”, says Lauren Aste, Executive Vice President & Chief Legal Officer. “Signing The Code from ECPAT marks CWT’s continuous commitment and leadership to keeping children safe anywhere around the world.” “ECPAT-USA is thrilled that CWT remains a steadfast ambassador and partner of The Code, lending its unwavering support to our child protection programs in truly meaningful ways. We thank CWT for its continued leadership in the anti-trafficking movement,” said Yvonne Chen, Director of Private Sector Engagement, ECPAT-USA. By signing The Code, CWT has committed to uphold the six criteria of The Code, including establishing policies and procedures, training employees, implementing contractual clauses, providing information to travelers and engaging with stakeholders on prevention and annually reporting on all related activities.

Fisheries conservation: Reinforced protection for 11 vulnerable sites in the North Sea

The Commission adopted a set of conservation measures to protect six areas defined under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and five Natura 2000 sites in the Danish and Swedish parts of the Kattegat. Based on a joint initiative of Denmark, Sweden and Germany, the action is a positive step towards reducing the impact of fishing activities on the seabed and habitats. The measures ensure protection of sensitive species, will improve the ecological functioning of Marine Protected Areas (MPA) and deliver on the European Green DealSearch for available translations of the preceding and EU’s biodiversity strategy for 2030Search for available translations of the preceding.On the Danish side of the Kattegat, the measures concern six MSFD area and one Natura 2000 area. The measures aim at protecting the soft seabed and reef structures from the impact of mobile bottom contacting gears. On the Swedish side, the measures aim at protecting sensitive species and habitats in four Natura 2000 areas.The measures, which include closures of certain areas to fishing activities, the prohibition of mobile contacting gears in the MSFD and Natura 2000 areas, allowing fishing only with most selective gears in certains areas and reinforced control, received a postive evaluation from scientists from the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF).The Commission is pleased to acknowledge the optimal use made by Denmark, Sweden and Germany of Article 11 of the common fisheries policy (CFP)Search for available translations of the preceding stating that fisheries conservation measures should contribute to the EU’s environmental policy. Furthermore, the measures are an example of the positive opportunities offered by regionalisation.

Ocean Protection and Monitoring Technologies and Services

20 October 2021. This webinar, jointly organised by the European Investment Bank, the European Commission’s Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, the European Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA), Copernicus Marine Services and OceanOPS, will present the latest developments on monitoring our seas so as to stimulate investment and partnerships between public institutions and private companies.Tackling the new sustainability challenges for EU’s blue economy, estimated at €650 bn of annual turnover as part of the European Green Deal, needs action from local decision makers and stakeholders.By investing in blue digital monitoring and protection technologies and services, regions, institutions and national protection authorities will not only protect assets, lives and biodiversity but also foster innovation and job creation in marine coastal areas and ensure that Europe regains technological leadership and autonomy. Recovery plans offer an opportunity to take advantage of these new digital technologies for monitoring and protecting our seas and coastal areas.Examples of the new innovative solutions that are already operational will be presented. They range from ocean energy applications, to services for improving search and rescue. Increased deployment of these services can have a real impact on the blue economy. The European Investment Bank’s advisory services are ready to support local authorities plans and efforts. The workshop will be introduced by Harald Gruber (European Investment Bank) and Fiammetta Diani (EUSPA), who will present the latest developments and welcome you.The event will be summarised in a digital document, which progressively could be updated with new local and pilot cases.

Veeam svela il futuro della Modern Data Protection a VeeamON 2021

COLUMBUS, Ohio. Veeam® Software, leader nella fornitura di soluzioni per la modern data protection, annuncia le novità dei prossimi mesi e svela la strategia per fornire ai suoi clienti la soluzione più avanzata per la protezione dei dati in tutti gli ambienti, cloud, virtuali, SaaS, Kubernetes e fisici. Durante VeeamON, l’evento più importante dedicato alla data protection, l’azienda ha mostrato un’anteprima dei prossimi aggiornamenti che permetteranno di proteggere e gestire TUTTI i workload attraverso un’unica piattaforma. Il lancio, previsto nella seconda metà del 2021, riguarda importanti innovazioni delle soluzioni cloud-native per AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, Microsoft Office 365 e la prima integrazione di Kasten K10 per Kubernetes nella piattaforma Veeam.“Gli ultimi 18 mesi sono stati ricchi di annunci di prodotto, Veeam ha infatti rilasciato più di 20 nuove offerte: Veeam V10 e V11, Veeam Backup for Google Cloud, gli aggiornamenti di Veeam Backup for Microsoft Azure, AWS & Microsoft Office 365 e altro ancora,” ha dichiarato Danny Allan, CTO & SVP, Product Strategy di Veeam. “Vogliamo continuare a fare innovazione e siamo consapevoli che i nostri clienti siano alla ricerca di soluzioni in grado di proteggere i loro dati su ambienti multi cloud: grazie alla nostra piattaforma possiamo garantire la sicurezza, la protezione e un ripristino efficace di tutti i dati e i workload. Siamo orgogliosi del nostro successo e del fatto che ora siamo il numero 2 sul mercato, ma siamo sicuri che questo è soltanto la punta dell’iceberg.” La piattaforma di Veeam per la protezione e la gestione delle risorse in ambienti multi cloud, inclusi AWS, Azure e Google Cloud, include funzionalità cloud mobility per il backup, il ripristino e la migrazione dei workload in qualsiasi ambiente, garantendo costi fino a 50 volte inferiori rispetto a quelli associati alla protezione nativa dei workload.

America wants to waive patent protection for vaccines

Welcome to our weekly newsletter highlighting The Economist’s best coverage of the pandemic and its effects. In a surprise move on Wednesday, America announced that it would support waiving some patent protections for covid-19 vaccines. Jaws dropped, along with the share prices of vaccine-makers.In India, the epidemic continues to worsen. On May 5th the country reported more than 412,000 new infections, its highest number yet. Half of all cases of covid-19 recorded around the world are in India, up from one in 25 at the start of March. The number of covid deaths in the country tripled in March, and then in April leapt by a factor of ten. The calamity is having political implications for India’s national government, which looks increasingly hapless.Within India, leaders in Delhi could learn useful lessons from Mumbai, which is handling its second wave far better than the nation’s capital. In our Graphic detail section we lay bare how India’s covid-19 crisis has spiralled out of control. The region is recording four times as many cases now as it was at the peak of the first wave. Covid-19 has exposed Africa’s dependence on vaccines from abroad. Until now there has been little incentive for countries on the continent to make vaccines themselves but, since the pandemic began, that calculation has changed.On “The Jab”, our podcast reporting from the sharp end of the vaccination race, we examine how vaccines have become a tool of global influence. China and Russia have sent millions of doses abroad, but the West has lagged behind in so-called “vaccine diplomacy”. What are the risks and rewards? In a related chart, we delve deeper into vaccine donations around the world and find that they are yet to take off—less than one dose for every 100 of the world’s people has been given away so far.Writing in our sister magazine, 1843, Ann Wroe can’t wait to get back to normal. But, given that “normal” is by definition meant to be dull, how long before she’s bored again? Zanny Minton Beddoes Editor-In-Chief The Economist

Digital Services Act: guaranteeing fundamental rights and consumer protection is essential

Bruxelles. After the European Commission’s presentation of the proposals, the Chairs of the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee and Legal Affairs Committee issued the following statements:“Regulating the digital single market is one of the biggest challenges we are currently facing to ensure a high level of consumer protection and fair competition for businesses. I welcome the proposals on the Digital Services and Digital Markets Act, which aim to harmonise the digital single market, control online platforms, and create a level playing field in the internal market. Citizens’ rights and freedoms must be at the heart of the proposal. The need to guarantee consumers the same rights online and offline is greater than ever. We must therefore consider the gatekeeper role of big platforms to ensure consumer choice and avoid detrimental lock-in effects. Unfortunately, the proposal remains too flexible on enforcement and sanctions, which are vital to ensuring a high level of consumer protection in the internal market,” said Anna Cavazzini (Greens/EFA, DE), Chair of Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee.“The proposal for the regulation of a Single Market for Digital Services is an ambitious project, which aims to establish a regulatory EU framework adapted to the digital realities of the 21st century. The success of this project is a priority for Parliament during this mandate. We will work tirelessly to adopt legislation that balances two key principles: guaranteeing respect for fundamental rights and European consumer protection standards, while strengthening an ecosystem that promotes technological innovation and the development of the digital economy as a cornerstone of prosperity and wealth for the future of Europe”, said Adrián Vázquez Lázara (Renew, ES), Chair of Legal Affairs Committee.

Meeting of the Committee of Inquiry on the Protection of Animals during Transport (ANIT)

Brussels, Wednesday, 2 December, from 16.45 to 18.45 József Antall building, room 2Q2 The meeting will be with fully remote participation. Members will be able to view and listen to the proceedings, ask for the floor and intervene in the meeting. • Welfare of transported animals in the context of modern EU farm policy. Debate with Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski, Wed pm, shortly after 16h45

Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee

Bruxelles. Wednesday 2 December 2020, 13.45 – 15.45 and 16.45 – 18.30 Highlights of the next meeting Antall building, room 6Q2 Committee Members will be able to participate remotely. The meeting will be webstreamed here.(vote on amendments will be open from 13.50 to 15.20 and final vote from 16.50 to 17.20)- Strengthening the Single Market: the future of free movement of services – rapporteur: Morten Løkkegaard (Renew, DK) – vote on draft report Debates 13.45-15.45 – Implementation of rules on procurement in the fields of defence and security and on transfer of defence-related products – rapporteur: Kris Peeters (EPP, BE) – discussion on amendments – Harmonised conditions for the marketing of construction products (implementation of the Construction Products Regulation) – rapporteur: Christian Doleschal (EPP, DE) – discussion on compromise amendments – A European strategy for data (lead committee: Industry) – rapporteur of the Internal Market Committee opinion: Christel Schaldemose (S&D, DK) – discussion on amendments – Impacts of EU rules on the free movements of workers and services: intra-EU labour mobility as a tool to match labour market needs and skills (lead committee: Employment) – rapporteur of the Internal Market Committee opinion: Morten Løkkegaard (Renew, DK) – discussion on amendments.

Consumer protection: Committee welcomes New Consumer Agenda

Bruxelles.The Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee is set to discuss the New Consumer Agenda next week. Committee Chair welcomes the long-awaited proposal for EU consumer policy.Consumers need to play a central role in the digital transition. They must have the same rights online and offline. I welcome the wide range of measures announced by the Commission, from addressing platform liability for goods and services on their marketplaces to redefining product safety when it comes to artificial intelligence and data protection.The success of the European Green Deal relies on European consumers: new sustainability requirements for all products on the market, greater reparability and longevity, as well as better labelling will enable sustainable choices.Finally, it is crucial that consumers do not bear the burden of the pandemic. In such extraordinary circumstances, it is vital that consumers are protected, be it from scams, travel-related issues, or having their financial vulnerabilities exploited.I look forward to next week’s discussion with Commissioner Reynders in the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee.” The committee will hold an extraordinary meeting next Thursday, 19 November at 17.00 where Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders will present the EU’s plans for consumer policy until 2025.

COVID-19 recovery: balance investor protection and compliance costs for firms

Economic and Monetary Affairs MEPs adopted targeted changes for investment firms, granting EU companies access to a diverse range of funding and supporting the post-COVID-19 recovery. Targeted adjustments to the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MIFID II) aim to facilitate economic recovery by removing unnecessary administrative burdens while maintaining a balance between investor protection and compliance costs for firms. The changes apply mostly to professional clients and eligible counterparties such as insurers, pension funds, or public institutions.The changes adopted by the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee on Wednesday evening include: • Information on costs and charges was suspended for professional clients except for investment advice and portfolio management. The suspension should also apply to eligible counterparties. • Ex-post information on costs and charges should be supplied without delay and clients should be able to receive such information over the phone prior to concluding a transaction. • Retail clients to receive information in digital format instead of on paper, but should be given at least 8 weeks notice and the choice to continue receiving information on paper or switch to digital format. • Certain product governance requirements will no longer apply to corporate bonds with “make-whole clauses” – which protect investors against losses in case an issuer opts for early repayment by guaranteeing them a payment equal to the net present value of the coupons. • Commodity derivatives: some changes to the position limits regime. MEPs also asked the Commission to present a proposal for a review of both the Market in Financial Instruments Directive (MIFID) and the Regulation (MIFIR) by 31 July 2021 at the latest. It should consider issues related to market structure, data, trading and post trading, research rules, rules on payment of inducements to advisors, the level of professional qualifications of advisers in Europe, client categorisation, and Brexit. The text was adopted with 26 votes to 12 and 18 abstentions.

Greater EU Civil Protection capacity needed in light of lessons from COVID-19

Parliament calls for the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism to be enhanced so that the EU can better respond to large-scale emergencies such as COVID-19. The EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) has successfully supported member states to save lives, including during the COVID-19 crisis, by coordinating and assisting in civil protection efforts. Medical equipment such as ventilators, personal protective equipment, vaccines and therapeutics and laboratory supplies have also been procured through rescEU to support national health services during the pandemic. Just this week, it was used to channel further aid to refugees on Lesvos, following the fire in Moria refugee camp.However, the pandemic has also shown that, when many member states are hit simultaneously by the same emergency, the way the current crisis management is set up has its limits. Parliament therefore wants to strengthen the EU’s role through the rescEU to ensure that member states are not left to rely on own assets and voluntary support when dealing with such emergencies.In ongoing EU budget and recovery fund negotiations, Parliament has supported the significant increase in the budget proposed by the Commission.Parliament, however, wants a significantly larger amount to be allocated to preparedness, including for the purchase of necessary new rescEU equipment, materials and resources to be better able to assist member states when national capacities are overstretched. This would make it possible to respond swiftly and effectively to large-scale emergencies or to events which rarely occur but which have a high impact, including medical emergencies such as COVID-19.To be more transparent about the use of EU funding, MEPs also want to specify how money is allocated across the three pillars of the mechanism: prevention, preparedness and response.

Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee

Bruxelles Monday 29 June 2020, 13.00 – 15.00 and 16.00 – 17.00 Antall building, room 4Q1. The meeting will be with remote participation (Members will be able to view and listen to the proceedings, ask for the floor and intervene)
– Artificial intelligence in education, culture and the audiovisual sector (lead committee: Culture and Education) – rapporteur of the Internal Market Committee opinion: Kim Van Sparrentak (Greens/EFA, NL) – vote on a draft opinion (remote voting procedure on amendments will be open from 13.10 to 14.10 and final vote from 16.10 to 17.00, Brussels time)
– Addressing product safety in the Single Market – rapporteur: Marion Walsmann (EPP, DE) – discussion on amendments
– Artificial intelligence: questions of interpretation and application of international law in so far as the EU is affected in the areas of civil and military uses and of state authority outside the scope of criminal justice (lead committee: Legal Affairs) – rapporteur of the Internal Market Committee opinion: Andreas Schwab (EPP, DE) – discussion on amendments and compromise amendments
– Framework of ethical aspects of artificial intelligence, robotics and related technologies (lead committee: Legal Affairs) – rapporteur of the Internal Market Committee opinion: Alexandra Geese (Greens/EFA, DE) – discussion on amendments and compromise amendments
– Civil liability regime for artificial intelligence (lead committee: Legal Affairs) – rapporteur of the Internal Market Committee opinion: Svenja Hahn (Renew, DE) – discussion on amendments and compromise amendments.

COVID-19: No free movement of critical workers without adequate protection

MEPs debated how safe cross-border labour mobility should be ensured with Josip Aladrović, Croatian Minister of Labour and Pension Systems, Nicolas Schmit, Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, and Jordi Curell Gotor, Interim Executive Director of the European Labour Authority.MEPs are deeply concerned by reports about the precarious working conditions and lack of safety measures for cross-border, frontier and seasonal workers. They provide a vital workforce on farms in Germany, France and other member states and ensure food security across Europe but their rights are often denied. Members gave examples of the problems that workers in slaughterhouses in the Netherlands and France, and health workers from Romania and Bulgaria who are brought to Austria, are facing.Although the vulnerable position of Europe’s 1.9 million posted workers and 1.5 million cross-border workers has been an issue for a long time, the COVID-19-crisis is highlighting these problems even further. MEPs underlined that according to EU law, mobile and posted workers have to be treated in the same way as domestic workers. They called on the member states to step up labour inspections, where relevant jointly with the European Labour Authority, and to fully implement EU legislation regulating different aspects of mobility, including free movement, posting of workers and social security coordination.Members of the Employment Committee also stressed that digitalizing procedures and applications could help to coordinate the different social security systems of national authorities to ensure social protection for all employees in the EU.The EP-negotiating team on the revision of EU legislation on the coordination of social security systems also called on all actors to urgently find a balanced solution as a top priority in the social area.Some speakers pointed to the responsibility that the agencies who recruit the mobile workers have and asked if more stringent measures are needed to better protect mobile workers in order to avoid them losing their houses together with their jobs. Real free movement is only possible if the workplace is safe, they said.

Protection of workers from biological agents: how to classify COVID-19

The Employment and Social Affairs Committee will debate with the Commission on Wednesday how to classify SARS-CoV-2, responsible for COVID-19, to protect workers’ health and safety.Parliament has the right to veto this measure, within one month after it has been adopted by the Commission, foreseen for the beginning of June.Classification in risk group 3 means that the biological agent can “cause severe human disease and present a serious hazard to workers; it may present a risk of spreading to the community, but there is usually effective prophylaxis or treatment available”. The SARS and MERS viruses are examples of risk group 3 viruses. Ebola is in risk group 4. EU directives protect workers against the risks of exposure to biological agents (bacteria, viruses and other micro-organisms) at work. Depending on their level of danger, they are classified in risk groups on an increasing scale from 1 to 4. Risk group 1 includes the least hazardous agents, group 4 lists the most hazardous ones.
Biological agents are microorganisms that may harm workers by causing an infection, an allergic reaction or exposing them to a toxin. They are classified into four risk groups according to their level of risk of infection:
• a group 1 biological agent is unlikely to cause human disease;
• a group 2 biological agent can cause human disease and might be a hazard to workers; it is unlikely to spread to the community; there is usually effective prophylaxis or treatment available;
• a group 3 biological agent can cause severe human disease and present a serious hazard to workers; it may present a risk of spreading to the community, but there is usually effective prophylaxis or treatment available;
• a group 4 biological agent causes severe human disease and is a serious hazard to workers; it may present a high risk of spreading to the community; there is usually no effective prophylaxis or treatment available.

Rule of law in Poland and Hungary: MEPs ask for better protection of EU values

In a debate with Commissioner Reynders and Minister Tuppurainen, committee MEPs condemned the lack of progress in ongoing processes and asked for a permanent EU-wide mechanism.The Civil Liberties Committee debated with the Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders and Finland’s Minister for European Affairs Tytti Tuppurainen on behalf of the Council the two Article 7(1) procedures on Hungary and Poland and the evaluation of the annual rule of law dialogue. The majority of MEPs who took the floor criticised the lack of concrete progress on the Article 7(1) process (initiated by Parliament in the case of Hungary and by the Commission in the case of Poland), especially in light of continued attacks on the rule of law in these countries. They also praised the efforts and determination of the Finnish Presidency and highlighted that the upcoming Croatian Presidency should continue its work, while highlighting that hearings on the situation in both countries were organised too late – over a year after Parliament’s 2018 reasoned proposal. The Committee Chair and rapporteur for Poland Juan López Aguilar (S&D, ES) and the rapporteur for Hungary Gwendolin Delbos-Corfield (Greens, FR), as well as other MEPs, further condemned the continued failure of the Council to formally include Parliament in the Article 7(1) process for Hungary. MEPs stressed that threats to the rule of law need to be addressed in a much more effective and consistent manner, using the entirety of tools currently available (including recourse to the judiciary mechanisms of the EU) but also through the establishment of a permanent monitoring and enforcement mechanism. This would ensure that EU values are respected across the all member states, with many drawing links between EU funding and adherence to the principles enshrined in the Treaty. Most MEPs highlighted that they continue to be concerned about judicial independence, freedom of expression, corruption, rights of minorities, and the situation of migrants and refugees in Hungary. In the case of Poland, MEPs are still worried about the separation of powers, the independence of the judiciary and fundamental rights.

Acronis Global Cyber Summit Kicks Off the Cyber Protection Revolution

Acronis, a global leader in cyber protection today welcomed attendees to its Acronis Global Cyber Summit taking place at the famed Fontainebleau Miami Beach Resort. The inaugural event includes exciting announcements of new solutions, customer showcases, exclusive networking opportunities and more than 30 educational sessions focused on the rapidly-growing need for cyber protection.Over the next two and a half days, world-renowned experts and business leaders, including the CEO of Herjavec group Robert Herjavec, Security Analyst and Researcher at Tel Aviv University Keren Elazari, and American former FBI counter-terrorism and counterintelligence operative Eric O’Neill, along with Acronis Founder and CEO, Serguei Beloussov will share insights on the industry’s need for easy, efficient and secure cyber protection solutions.This evening the Acronis Cyber Foundation will host a charity reception that will focus on the initiative to build schools in developing countries. Founded in 2018 to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the company, the Acronis Cyber Foundation’s mission is to create, spread and protect knowledge. The Foundation’s school initiative is to open 15 schools by 2021. To date, the Foundation has opened six schools with three others planned for 2019, including the opening of a school in San Antonio, Sololá, Guatemala on October 18.During the summit, the Acronis Cyber Fit Partner Awards will be given out to recognize the outstanding work of Acronis’ partners and their contribution to making Acronis a global presence in cyber protection.Our Diamond and Gold sponsors at the Acronis Cyber Summit who are helping businesses get #CyberFit include: Ingram Micro, ConnectWise, Vuzion, Cobweb Solutions, Pax8, Scale Computing, Lifeboat, SherWeb, ExaGrid, Bitdefender and Eze Castle Integration.

Protection of democracy and fundamental rights, with a focus on gender equality

The EU should do more to promote democracy, rule of law and fundamental rights across all its member states, putting particular emphasis on supporting gender equality, say MEPs.
Plenary backed on Wednesday the partial agreement reached with the Council of the EU on the Rights and Values Programme for the next budgetary period (2021-2027). Both institutions agreed to rename it Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme and that its purpose should be “to nurture and sustain a rights-based, equal, open, pluralist, inclusive and democratic society”.The Programme will continue seeking to promote equality and non-discrimination, encourage citizens’ engagement and participation in the democratic process, and fight violence, including gender-based violence, through support to civil society organisations at local, regional, national and transnational level.At the initiative of the EP, the protection and promotion of democracy and the rule of law will be specifically mentioned as the main aim, given that these are a prerequisite for protecting fundamental rights and for ensuring mutual trust among member states and of citizens’ trust in the European Union.MEPs managed to include, among the initiatives to be funded, remembrance activities on Europe’s historical memory, that allow to reflect on the causes of totalitarian regimes, in particular Nazism, Fascism, Stalinism and other communist regimes, as well as commemoration of their victims. Other actions that may receive support are town-twinning projects and those meant for the protection of victims of violence, particularly women and girls.The promotion of gender equality, including the fight against gender-based violence and active support to women’s rights organisations, will be a central element of the Programme. The text notes that tackling stereotypes and promoting equal access to work and the elimination of barriers to career progression are key. It points in this regard that focus should be put on work-life balance and on equal sharing of unpaid household and care work between men and women.

MEPs back modernised Council of Europe data protection convention

Changes to the convention aim to respond to challenges in the digital era Safer exchange of personal data and flows between the EU and non-EU countries. The amending protocol opens the possibility for the EU to become a party to the convention. Parliament gives consent to EU countries to ratify the protocol amending the Council of Europe data protection convention to adapt it to the digital era.
The amending protocol intends to modernise and harmonise the Council of Europe data protection convention (Convention 108) in response to emerging privacy challenges, and to ensure it is adequately applied. The recommendation, adopted on Tuesday with 624 votes to 12 and 27 abstentions, underlines that the new protocol will facilitate the exchange of personal data based on appropriate safeguards.The text will also ease data sharing between the EU and non-EU parties to the convention, MEPs say. Moreover, the amending text introduces the possibility for the EU and other international organisations to join the convention.Under the currents rules only states can be parties of the data protection convention which is why the EU cannot sign or ratify the amending protocol.The amending protocol was developed in parallel with the European data protection reform package. Consequently, the amended convention is fully consistent with EU relevant instruments such as the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Police Directive.The Council can now authorise member states to ratify the amending protocol.

Volkswagen Protects Virtual Key Sharing App with Trustonic Application Protection

Volkswagen is working with mobile cyber security leader Trustonic to enable customers to use smartphones to access their vehicles, and to securely share their digital car keys to grant access to others via a smartphone app. Volkswagen is using the Trustonic Application Protection (TAP) platform to secure the mobile app and ensure that sensitive information and key transfer requests are securely displayed to, and approved by, a real authenticated user on a trusted device and not by hackers or malware simulating a user or device.
“The smartphone is becoming the vehicle key of the future and our We Connect service is the interface for this today in the new Volkswagen Passat,” comments Alf Pollex, Head of Infotainment and Connected Car at Volkswagen AG. “The user installs the We Connect app on their smartphone which is then authorized via the infotainment system with a Transaction Number. The Mobile Key will be compatible with Android-based Samsung devices. No mobile network connection is required to use the smartphone as a mobile key. All the user needs to do is place the smartphone near the door handle, in the same way as the current keyless locking and starting system ‘Keyless Access’ opens the Passat today. To start the engine, the smartphone is placed in a new compartment with an interface in front of the Passat’s gear knob. It is also possible to send the mobile key to friends or family via the app so that they can also use their smartphone as a key for the car.” By protecting the virtual key application using TAP, Volkswagen is making use of Trustonic’s Trusted User Interface (TUI) feature to securely display information to the user. TUI ensures that only the authenticated user of the device can confirm the key transfer, and to do so safely in isolation from the device’s main operating system during the confirmation.
Learn more about Trustonic solutions for the automotive sector and see how Trustonic Application Protection (TAP) can make your connected car apps simpler, faster and more secure.

MEPs assess data protection level in Japan

Bruxelles. In their assessment of the Commission’s draft adequacy decision on Japan, MEPs demand further clarifications to ensure safe data transfers to Japan.In the resolution, adopted by 516 to 26, with 11 abstentions, MEPs give their input to the draft adequacy decision on the protection of personal data afforded by Japan. This decision, to be taken by the Commission, would allow the free flow of personal data from the EU to Japan without further safeguards or authorisations.The adequacy decision would further facilitate commercial exchanges between Japan and the EU and complement the benefits of the Economic Partnership Agreement approved by the European Parliament yesterdayMEPs consider that the Japanese and EU data protection systems share a high degree of convergence in terms of principles, safeguards and individual rights, as well as oversight and enforcement mechanisms.However, they note that there are some relevant differences between the two systems especially in regards to the definition of ‘personal data’ and ‘personal information’, rules on automated decision-making and profiling, direct marketing, onward transfers and on sanctions for infringements. MEPs call on the Commission to provide further clarifications on these topics. If necessary, Japanese authorities should be requested to provide additional binding rules in order to ensure that the level of data protection in Japan is comparable to that in the EU.In their resolution, MEPs also express worry over Japanese mass surveillance facilities “that eavesdrop around the clock on phone calls, emails, and other communications” and call on the Commission to provide more information about this.Finally, MEPs highlight that the adequacy decision can send out a strong signal to countries around the world that convergence with the EU’s high data protection standards and that it acts as a precedent for future partnerships.