The relationship between EU and US is cracked.

After the spying revelations released by American former spy agency contractor Edward Snowden, European Commission responded to the UE concerns about the US’s data collection programs.

Viviane Reding, the European Commission vice-president, deplored the American mass surveillance and said that “Massive spying on our citizens, companies and leaders is unacceptable. Citizens on both sides of the Atlantic need to be reassured that their data is protected and companies need to know existing agreements are respected and enforced”.

The United States have been asked to restore trust with a six-point strategy. Europe is waiting for Barack Obama to address several points during the review of the US National Security Agencies.

the main axis of this strategy evolve around 2 points, firstly, in order to restore the lost trust, the EU is asking the US to rely more on the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs) and other similar agreements to access data; and to enhance the so-called “Safe Harbour” provisions when European and American companies exchange data.

Secondly,the  EC also wants the US to quickly switch to the EU’s data protection legislative framework, which provides clear and enforceable rules for data that is transferred and processed overseas. The US have also been asked to sign up to the Council of Europe’s Convention 108 which, when it comes to automatic processing of personal data, enhances individual protection.