The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) has issued its opinion 17/2026 concerning the European Commission's proposal to amend Regulation (EU) 2018/1725, which governs the processing of personal data by the institutions and bodies of the Union.
The proposal aims to harmonize the data protection framework applicable to the processing of operational personal data by the Union's agencies and bodies in the area of justice and home affairs (JHA), notably the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol), the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust), the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex). While welcoming this initiative, the EDPS considers that improvements are necessary to fully achieve the objectives, emphasizing the importance of effective supervision and enforcement of the rules. It recommends clarifying its power to issue binding compliance orders in case of infringement, allowing provisional safeguard measures in emergencies, streamlining cooperation with national supervisory authorities, and ensuring that existing cooperation agreements with third countries comply with Union law. This opinion is part of a broader legislative package, for which the EDPS calls for additional human and financial resources.