Date: 2023-12-28Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2915 of 11 December 2023 on the determination, under the second subparagraph of Article 8(10) of the Agreement between the European Union and Iceland and Norway on the application of certain provisions of Council Decision 2008/615/JHA on the stepping up of cross-border cooperation, particularly in combating terrorism and cross-border crime and Council Decision 2008/616/JHA on the implementation of Decision 2008/615/JHA on the stepping up of cross-border cooperation, particularly in combating terrorism and cross-border crime, and the Annex thereto, of the date from which personal data relating to DNA data, dactyloscopic data and vehicle registration data may be supplied by Member States to Norway
Executive Summary:
This Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2915, adopted on December 11, 2023, determines that Member States may supply personal data relating to DNA, dactyloscopic, and vehicle registration data to Norway for automated searching and comparison. This decision is based on an agreement between the EU, Iceland, and Norway, and follows evaluations and a pilot run confirming Norway's readiness. The decision comes into effect on January 1, 2024.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Data Exchange Authorization:**
* Authorizes Member States to supply personal data to Norway for automated searching and comparison of DNA data, dactyloscopic data, and vehicle registration data.
* **Legal Basis:**
* Based on the Agreement between the EU, Iceland, and Norway concerning cross-border cooperation.
* Relates to Council Decisions 2008/615/JHA and 2008/616/JHA on stepping up cross-border cooperation, particularly in combating terrorism and cross-border crime.
* Takes into account Council Decision 2010/482/EU on the conclusion of the Agreement.
* **Conditions for Implementation:**
* Norway has taken necessary implementing measures and undergone a successful evaluation by the Union, including a pilot run.
* Norway has fulfilled the conditions set out in Article 8(9) of the Agreement.
* **Effective Date:**
* The decision is effective from January 1, 2024.
* **Member State Participation:**
* Ireland is bound by the Agreement and participates in the adoption and application of this decision.
* Denmark does not participate in the adoption of this decision and is not bound by it.
Impact Analysis:
* **Member States:**
* *Impact:* Member states are now authorized to supply specific categories of personal data to Norway.
* *Action Required:* Implement the necessary technical and legal measures to enable the automated exchange of DNA, dactyloscopic, and vehicle registration data with Norway from January 1, 2024.
* **Norway:**
* *Impact:* Norway is now entitled to receive personal data from Member States for automated searching and comparison, enhancing cross-border cooperation in combating crime and terrorism.
* *Action Required:* Maintain compliance with data protection standards and ensure the continued effective operation of the automated data exchange mechanisms.
* **EU Council:**
* *Impact:* The Council has exercised its implementing powers under the Agreement.
* *Action Required:* Ensure the decision is properly implemented and monitor its effectiveness in enhancing cross-border cooperation.
Key Entities Referenced
European Union: A political and economic union of member states located primarily in Europe.
Iceland: A Nordic island country in the North Atlantic.
Norway: A Nordic country in Northern Europe, with mainland territory on the Scandinavian Peninsula.
Council Decision 2008/615/JHA: A Council Decision on the stepping up of cross-border cooperation, particularly in combating terrorism and cross-border crime.
Council Decision 2008/616/JHA: A Council Decision on the implementation of Decision 2008/615/JHA on the stepping up of cross-border cooperation, particularly in combating terrorism and cross-border crime.
Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: One of the two primary treaties forming the constitutional basis of the European Union (EU).
DNA data, dactyloscopic data and vehicle registration data: Types of personal data subject to automated exchange between member states and Norway.
Austria: A Member state of the European Union.
Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2023/2915 28.12.2023
COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2023/2915
of 11 December 2023
on the determination, under the second subparagraph of Article 8(10) of the Agreement between the
European Union and Iceland and Norway on the application of certain provisions of Council
Decision 2008/615/JHA on the stepping up of cross-border cooperation, particularly in combating
terrorism and cross-border crime and Council Decision 2008/616/JHA on the implementation of
Decision 2008/615/JHA on the stepping up of cross-border cooperation, particularly in combating
terrorism and cross-border crime, and the Annex thereto, of the date from which personal data
relating to DNA data, dactyloscopic data and vehicle registration data may be supplied by Member
States to Norway
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Decision 2010/482/EU of 26 July 2010 on the conclusion of the Agreement between the
European Union and Iceland and Norway on the application of certain provisions of Council Decision 2008/615/JHA on
the stepping up of cross-border cooperation, particularly in combating terrorism and cross-border crime and Council
Decision 2008/616/JHA on the implementation of Decision 2008/615/JHA on the stepping up of cross-border
cooperation, particularly in combating terrorism and cross-border crime, and the Annex thereto(1),
Whereas:
(1) The Agreement between the European Union and Iceland and Norway on the application of certain provisions of
Council Decision 2008/615/JHA on the stepping up of cross-border cooperation, particularly in combating
terrorism and cross-border crime and Council Decision 2008/616/JHA on the implementation of
Decision 2008/615/JHA on the stepping up of cross-border cooperation, particularly in combating terrorism and
cross-border crime, and the Annex thereto(2) (the ‘Agreement’) provides for reciprocal cooperation between the
competent law enforcement authorities of the Member States, on the one side, and Norway, on the other side,
concerning the automated exchange of DNA data, dactyloscopic data and vehicle registration data. As a prerequisite
for such cooperation, Norway first needs to take the necessary implementing measures and undergo an evaluation
by the Union and a pilot run.
(2) The Agreement is binding on the Union and on its Member States by virtue of Decision (EU) 2010/482/EU, which is
based on Articles 82(1)(d) and 87(2)(a) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) as its
substantive legal basis.
(3) In accordance with Article 8(9) of the Agreement, the supply by Member States of personal data provided for under
that Agreement is not to take place until the provisions of Chapter 6 of Council Decision 2008/615/JHA(3) have
been implemented in the national law of Norway. In order to verify whether this is the case for Norway, an
evaluation visit and a pilot run is to be carried out with respect to Norway, similar to those concluded in respect of
Member States pursuant to Chapter 4 of the Annex to Council Decision 2008/616/JHA(4).
(4) The second subparagraph of Article 8(10) of the Agreement confers implementing powers upon the Council with a
view to determining the date or dates from which personal data may be supplied by Member States to Norway
pursuant to the Agreement.
(1) OJ L 238, 9.9.2010, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 353, 31.12.2009, p. 3.
(3) Council Decision 2008/615/JHA of 23 June 2008 on the stepping up of cross-border cooperation, particularly in combating terrorism
and cross-border crime (OJ L 210, 6.8.2008, p. 1).
(4) Council Decision 2008/616/JHA of 23 June 2008 on the implementation of Decision 2008/615/JHA on the stepping up of cross-
border cooperation, particularly in combating terrorism and cross-border crime (OJ L 210, 6.8.2008, p. 12).
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2023/2915/oj 1/2EN
OJ L, 28.12.2023
(5) On 17 November 2021, the Council sent Norway questionnaires relating to data protection and the automatic
exchange of DNA data, dactyloscopic data and vehicle registration data. On 15 June 2022, Norway provided the
Council with its answers to the questionnaires relating to data protection and the automatic exchange of DNA data,
and on 17 November 2022 its answers to the questionnaires relating to the automatic exchange of dactyloscopic
data and vehicle registration data. On 16 September 2022, the answers relating to data protection were presented to
the Council. On 10 November 2022, the answers relating to the automatic exchange of DNA data were presented to
the Council, and on 1 December 2022those relating to relating to the automatic exchange of dactyloscopic data and
vehicle registration data were presented to the Council. Thereafter, those answers were provided to the responsible
evaluation team.
(6) On 9to 10 March 2023, Norway underwent an evaluation with regard to searching and comparing DNA data and
dactyloscopic data. On 27 to 28 April 2023, Norway underwent an evaluation with regard to searching and
comparing vehicle registration data.
(7) On the occasions of the evaluations with regard to searching and comparing DNA data, dactyloscopic data and
vehicle registration data, a successful pilot run was carried out for each such evaluation by Norway with Austria.
(8) On 15 May 2023, an overall evaluation report, summarising the results of the questionnaire, the evaluation visits
and the pilot run, was presented to the Council. The evaluation report concluded that the implementation of the
automated data application and the related automated data information flow could be considered to have been
successfully concluded in Norway, both at legal and technical level.
(9) Since Norway fulfilled the conditions set out in Article 8(9) of the Agreement, Norway should be entitled to receive
personal data pursuant to the Agreement.
(10) Ireland is bound by the Agreement by virtue of Decision 2010/482/EU and is therefore taking part in the adoption
and application of this Decision, which implements the Agreement.
(11) In accordance with Articles 1 and 2 of Protocol No 22 on the position of Denmark, annexed to the Treaty on
European Union and to the TFEU, Denmark is not taking part in the adoption of this Decision and is not bound by
it or subject to its application,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
For the purposes of the automated searching and comparison of DNA data, dactyloscopic data and vehicle registration data,
personal data may be supplied by Member States to Norway pursuant to the Agreement between the European Union and
Iceland and Norway on the application of certain provisions of Council Decision 2008/615/JHA on the stepping up of
cross-border cooperation, particularly in combating terrorism and cross-border crime and Council
Decision 2008/616/JHA on the implementation of Decision 2008/615/JHA on the stepping up of cross-border
cooperation, particularly in combating terrorism and cross-border crime, and the Annex thereto, from 1 January 2024.
Article 2
This Decision shall enter into force on 1 January 2024.
Done at Brussels, 11 December 2023.
For the Council
The President
L. PLANAS PUCHADES
2/2 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2023/2915/oj