The Council today adopted rules aimed at preventing European political parties from misusing personal data in EP elections.
The new rules take the form of amendments to the 2014 regulation governing the statute and funding of European political parties and foundations. They will allow for financial sanctions to be imposed on European political parties and foundations that deliberately influence, or attempt to influence, the outcome of EP elections by taking advantage of breaches of data protection rules.
A verification procedure will be put in place for determining whether a breach of the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation, established by a national supervisory authority, is linked to the political activities of a European political party or foundation in the context of EP elections. It involves referring the matter to the committee of independent eminent persons established under the 2014 regulation.