EU/New Zealand Agreement: exchange of personal data between Europol and New Zealand

The European Parliament adopted by 594 votes to 27, with 9 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Union, of the one part, and New Zealand, of the other part, on the exchange of personal data between the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) and the authorities of New Zealand competent for fighting serious crime and terrorism.

Following the recommendation of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the agreement.

The objective of the agreement is to allow for the transfer of personal data, in order to strengthen the action of the competent authorities of the EU and New Zealand, as well as their mutual cooperation, in order to prevent and combat crime, including serious forms of crime and terrorism, which are becoming increasingly transnational or even global, while offering sufficient guarantees in terms of full respect for the fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals, including respect for privacy and data protection, as recognized by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.