The European Parliament adopted by 592 votes to 69 with 15 abstentions, in line with the consultation procedure, a legislative resolution on the draft Council implementing decision on the launch of automated data exchange with regard to vehicle registration data in Croatia.

The Council consulted Parliament in accordance with Article 39(1) of the Treaty on European Union, as amended by the Treaty of Amsterdam, and Article 9 of Protocol No 36 on transitional provisions.

In line with its Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, Parliament approved the Council draft.

The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs adopted, in line with the consultation procedure, the report by Claude MORAES (S&D, UK) on the draft Council implementing decision on the launch of automated data exchange with regard to vehicle registration data in Croatia.

The committee recommended the European Parliament to approve the Council draft .

As a reminder, the draft Council Implementing Decision seeks to authorise Croatia, for the purposes of automated searching of vehicle registration data, to receive and supply personal data pursuant to Decision 2008/615/JHA on the stepping up of cross-border cooperation, particularly in combating terrorism and cross-border crime as from the date of the entry into force of this Decision.

With regard to Article 39(1) of the Treaty on European Union, as amended by the Treaty of Amsterdam, and Article 9 of Protocol No 36 on transitional provisions, pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament.

PURPOSE: to authorise Croatia to receive and supply vehicle registration data (VRD).

PROPOSED ACT: Council Implementing Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the Council adopts the act after consulting the European Parliament but without being obliged to follow its opinion.

BACKGROUND: in accordance with Decision 2008/615/JHA on the stepping up of cross-border cooperation, particularly in combating terrorism and cross-border crime, the supply of personal data provided for under that Decision may not take place until the general provisions on data protection have been implemented in the national law of the territories of the Member States involved in such supply.

Council Decision 2008/616/JHA on the implementation of Decision 2008/615/JHA provides that the verification that the condition has been met with respect to automated data exchange is to be done on the basis of an evaluation report based on a questionnaire, an evaluation visit and a pilot run.

Croatia completed the questionnaire on data protection and the questionnaire on vehicle registration data (VRD) exchange. A successful pilot run was carried out by Croatia with the Netherlands. An evaluation visit took place in Croatia.

On 19 December 2016, the Council, having noted the agreement of all Member States bound by Decision 2008/615/JHA, concluded that Croatia had fully implemented the general provisions on data protection set out in Chapter 6 of Decision 2008/615/JHA.

CONTENT: the draft Council Implementing Decision seeks to authorise Croatia, for the purposes of automated searching of vehicle registration data, to receive and supply personal data pursuant to Decision 2008/615/JHA as from the date of the entry into force of this Decision.

Denmark, the United Kingdom and Ireland shall participate in the adoption and application of the proposed Decision.