Europe and the US failed to reach agreement on a new Safe Harbour legal framework for data transfers.
That much was immediately clear as Vera Jourová, EU commissioner for justice, consumers and gender equality briefed a parliamentary committee in Strasbourg last night on the results – or lack of them – of efforts to find a replacement for the old agreement, thrown out by the European Court of Justice earlier this year in the Schrems decision.
No relief then for businesses that have been left in a growing state of anxiety and alarm.
Yesterday’s extended discussions between the parties were considered a last-ditch effort before data protection authorities in Europe could decide to take the nuclear option – halt data transfers completely.
