Netherlands pushes for a ‘kill switch’ on EU police data links with non-EU partners
The Dutch government wants any EU agreement on automated police data exchange with trusted third countries to include a clause that allows termination if the partner undergoes a radical regime change.
In response to the European Commission’s plan to broaden the Prüm framework’s automated police and border-management data exchange, the Netherlands has called for a “kill switch” that would let the EU end the arrangement if a trusted third country experiences a radical regime change. The Dutch position stresses the need for clear termination grounds to protect EU data-protection standards and fundamental rights. The Commission’s draft list of eligible partners includes the United Kingdom, Canada, Schengen associates like Norway and Iceland, as well as candidate states from the Western Balkans, Ukraine and Moldova.
While Slovakia supports limiting trusted partners to those with long-standing cooperation, Germany and Belgium warn that one outlet system still suffers from performance issues and should not be expanded hastily. The proposal aligns with broader EU debates on safeguarding new member states and ensuring that data sharing does not exceed what member states already exchange among themselves.
Why it matters
It seeks to protect EU citizens' data by ensuring police information sharing can be halted if partner regimes become hostile.
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