It covers Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947, and the related acceptable means of compliance (AMC) and guidance material (GM), as well as Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945 on unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and on third-country operators of UAS. 

This Revision from September 2022 incorporates the changes introduced by:

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/425 amending Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 as regards postponing the transition dates for using certain UAS in the ‘open’ category and the dates of application for some standard scenarios; and

ED Decision 2022/002/R amending ED Decision 2019/021/R on ‘geographical zones’, operational authorisation forms in the ‘specific’ category, a procedure and forms for cross-border operations, standard scenarios, training modules syllabus for remote pilots in the ‘specific’ category, and a new predefined risk assessment.

The Easy Access Rules for Unmanned Aircraft Systems is available below in downloadable pdf format, with filters for obtaining the regulatory material tailored to one’s needs, search functions for quickly accessing the relevant sections, and easy navigation for computers, tablets, and mobiles; and in xml (machine-readable format) that can be easily processed by and synchronised with local applications, search databases, etc. The document will be updated regularly to incorporate further changes and evolutions to the implementing regulations, delegated regulations, AMC, and GM.

Download

HLS.Today Source: EASA.EU

Transatlantic data flows are critical to enabling the $7.1 trillion EU-U.S. economic relationship.  The EU-U.S. DPF will restore an important legal basis for transatlantic data flows by addressing concerns that the Court of Justice of the European Union raised in striking down the prior EU-U.S. Privacy Shield framework as a valid data transfer mechanism under EU law. 

The Executive Order bolsters an already rigorous array of privacy and civil liberties safeguards for U.S. signals intelligence activities. It also creates an independent and binding mechanism enabling individuals in qualifying states and regional economic integration organizations, as designated under the E.O., to seek redress if they believe their personal data was collected through U.S. signals intelligence in a manner that violated applicable U.S. law.

U.S. and EU companies large and small across all sectors of the economy rely upon cross-border data flows to participate in the digital economy and expand economic opportunities. The EU-U.S. DPF represents the culmination of a joint effort by the United States and the European Commission to restore trust and stability to transatlantic data flows and reflects the strength of the enduring EU-U.S. relationship based on our shared values. 

In particular, the Executive Order:

Adds further safeguards for U.S. signals intelligence activities, including requiring that such activities be conducted only in pursuit of defined national security objectives; take into consideration the privacy and civil liberties of all persons, regardless of nationality or country of residence; and be conducted only when necessary to advance a validated intelligence priority and only to the extent and in a manner proportionate to that priority.

Mandates handling requirements for personal information collected through signals intelligence activities and extends the responsibilities of legal, oversight, and compliance officials to ensure that appropriate actions are taken to remediate incidents of non-compliance.   

Requires U.S. Intelligence Community elements to update their policies and procedures to reflect the new privacy and civil liberties safeguards contained in the E.O. 

Creates a multi-layer mechanism for individuals from qualifying states and regional economic integration organizations, as designated pursuant to the E.O., to obtain independent and binding review and redress of claims that their personal information collected through U.S. signals intelligence was collected or handled by the United States in violation of applicable U.S. law, including the enhanced safeguards in the E.O. 

Under the first layer, the Civil Liberties Protection Officer in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (CLPO) will conduct an initial investigation of qualifying complaints received to determine whether the E.O.’s enhanced safeguards or other applicable U.S. law were violated and, if so, to determine the appropriate remediation. The E.O. builds up the existing statutory CLPO functions by establishing that the CLPO’s decision will be binding on the Intelligence Community, subject to the second layer of review, and provides protections to ensure the independence of the CLPO’s investigations and determinations.  

As a second layer of review, the E.O. authorizes and directs the Attorney General to establish a Data Protection Review Court (“DPRC”) to provide independent and binding review of the CLPO’s decisions, upon an application from the individual or an element of the Intelligence Community. Judges on the DPRC will be appointed from outside the U.S. Government, have relevant experience in the fields of data privacy and national security, review cases independently, and enjoy protections against removal. Decisions of the DPRC regarding whether there was a violation of applicable U.S. law and, if so, what remediation is to be implemented will be binding. To further enhance the DPRC’s review, the E.O. provides for the DPRC to select a special advocate in each case who will advocate regarding the complainant’s interest in the matter and ensure that the DPRC is well-informed of the issues and the law with regard to the matter. The Attorney General today issued accompanying regulations on the establishment of the DPRC.

Calls on the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board to review Intelligence Community policies and procedures to ensure that they are consistent with the Executive Order and to conduct an annual review of the redress process, including to review whether the Intelligence Community has fully complied with determinations made by the CLPO and the DPRC.

These steps will provide the European Commission with a basis to adopt a new adequacy determination, which will restore an important, accessible, and affordable data transfer mechanism under EU law. It will also provide greater legal certainty for companies using Standard Contractual Clauses and Binding Corporate Rules to transfer EU personal data to the United States.

HLS.Today Source: White House EU-US Privacy Shield

FACT SHEET: United States and European Commission Announce Trans-Atlantic Data Privacy Framework

The United States and the European Commission have committed to a new Trans-Atlantic Data Privacy Framework, which will foster trans-Atlantic data flows and address the concerns raised by the Court of Justice of the European Union when it struck down in 2020 the Commission’s adequacy decision underlying the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield framework.

This Framework will reestablish an important legal mechanism for transfers of EU personal data to the United States. The United States has committed to implement new safeguards to ensure that signals intelligence activities are necessary and proportionate in the pursuit of defined national security objectives, which will ensure the privacy of EU personal data and to create a new mechanism for EU individuals to seek redress if they believe they are unlawfully targeted by signals intelligence activities. This deal in principle reflects the strength of the enduring U.S.-EU relationship, as we continue to deepen our partnership based on our shared democratic values.

This Framework will provide vital benefits to citizens on both sides of the Atlantic. For EU individuals, the deal includes new, high-standard commitments regarding the protection of personal data. For citizens and companies on both sides of the Atlantic, the deal will enable the continued flow of data that underpins more than $1 trillion in cross-border commerce every year, and will enable businesses of all sizes to compete in each other’s markets. It is the culmination of more than a year of detailed negotiations between the EU and the U.S. following the 2020 decision by the Court of Justice of the European Union ruling that the prior EU-U.S. framework , known as Privacy Shield, did not satisfy EU legal requirements.

The new Trans-Atlantic Data Privacy Framework underscores our shared commitment to privacy, data protection, the rule of law, and our collective security as well as our mutual recognition of the importance of trans-Atlantic data flows to our respective citizens, economies, and societies. Data flows are critical to the trans-Atlantic economic relationship and for all companies large and small across all sectors of the economy. In fact, more data flows between the United States and Europe than anywhere else in the world, enabling the $7.1 trillion U.S.-EU economic relationship.

By ensuring a durable and reliable legal basis for data flows, the new Trans-Atlantic Data Privacy Framework will underpin an inclusive and competitive digital economy and lay the foundation for further economic cooperation. It addresses the Court of Justice of the European Union’s Schrems II decision concerning U.S, law governing signals intelligence activities. Under the Trans-Atlantic Data Privacy Framework, the United States has made unprecedented commitments to:

Strengthen the privacy and civil liberties safeguards governing U.S. signals intelligence activities;
Establish a new redress mechanism with independent and binding authority; and
Enhance its existing rigorous and layered oversight of signals intelligence activities.
For example, the new Framework ensures that:

Signals intelligence collection may be undertaken only where necessary to advance legitimate national security objectives, and must not disproportionately impact the protection of individual privacy and civil liberties;
EU individuals may seek redress from a new multi-layer redress mechanism that includes an independent Data Protection Review Court that would consist of individuals chosen from outside the U.S. Government who would have full authority to adjudicate claims and direct remedial measures as needed; and
U.S. intelligence agencies will adopt procedures to ensure effective oversight of new privacy and civil liberties standards.
Participating companies and organizations that take advantage of the Framework to legally protect data flows will continue to be required to adhere to the Privacy Shield Principles, including the requirement to self-certify their adherence to the Principles through the U.S. Department of Commerce. EU individuals will continue to have access to multiple avenues of recourse to resolve complaints about participating organizations, including through alternative dispute resolution and binding arbitration.

These new policies will be implemented by the U.S. intelligence community in a way to effectively protect its citizens, and those of its allies and partners, consistent with the high-standard protections offered under this Framework.

The teams of the U.S. government and the European Commission will now continue their cooperation with a view to translate this arrangement into legal documents that will need to be adopted on both sides to put in place this new Trans-Atlantic Data Privacy Framework. For that purpose, these U.S. commitments will be included in an Executive Order that will form the basis of the Commission’s assessment in its future adequacy decision.

The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Crown−Indigenous Relations; the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario; and the Honourable Daniel Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, issued the following statement today:

“As Pope Francis’ visit to Edmonton, Quebec City, and Iqaluit concludes, we take this moment to reflect on the events of the past week.

“For many years, First Nations, Inuit, and Métis have called on the pope to recognise the spiritual, cultural, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse their children endured while attending residential schools. Notwithstanding government or church invitations, this visit was made possible by Survivors, Indigenous leaders and youth. They invited Pope Francis to Canada and shared their truths about the ongoing and intergenerational effects of the abuse suffered at these government and church−run institutions.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action 58 called “…upon the pope to issue an apology to Survivors, their families, and communities for the Roman Catholic Church’s role in the spiritual, cultural, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children in Catholic-run residential schools.” The pope has acknowledged the sexual abuse that was rampant in residential schools since his initial apology in Maskwacîs on July 25; however, it is important to also recognise the systemic nature of this tragedy, that was both instigated and perpetuated by the Government of Canada and the churches, including the Catholic Church.

“It is not up to the Government of Canada to accept or decline an apology on behalf of Indigenous Peoples, and we will continue to support them as they determine what is needed for healing.

“We recognise that the events of this past week – and the revisiting of some of our country’s most tragic and painful truths – has been extremely difficult and traumatising for many Survivors, families, and communities. And we know that the hurt and trauma they suffered continue to impact generations of Indigenous families and communities today.

“Our government recognises that there is work to do on many fronts following the pope’s visit to Canada. Pope Francis acknowledged that concrete actions are needed, including the repatriation of Indigenous artefacts, access for Survivors to residential schools documents, addressing the Doctrine of Discovery, and ensuring justice for Survivors. We will continue to work with First Nations, Inuit and Métis on other priorities they’ve identified to advance reconciliation and healing.”

Source: Canada.ca

Statement by UK Border Force and French Police aux Frontières

France and the UK have been working closely together over recent days to prepare to manage our shared border through the current period of increased passenger traffic.

Police Aux Frontières and UK Border Force, in partnership with the port operators, have put plans in place at the juxtaposed controls on both sides of the Channel this weekend to maximise passenger flows.

France and the UK will continue to work together intensively to support the fluidity of freight and passengers across the Channel through the summer period and beyond.

Communiqué de la Police Aux Frontières et de la Border Force Britannique

France and the United Kingdom have worked closely together over the past few days to plan the management of our common border during the current period, marked by an increase in the number of passengers.

In partnership with the port operators, the French Border Police and the British “Border Force” took the necessary measures at the merge checkpoints on each side of the Channel to optimise passengers’ flow during this weekend.

France and the United Kingdom will continue to make every effort to ensure the smooth flow of passenger and freight vehicle traffic across the Channel throughout the summer and in the future.

Source: UK Gov

A Texas Department of Public Safety (TXDPS) trooper located the vehicle and attempted to perform a vehicle stop. The vehicle failed to yield and led troopers and agents on a vehicle pursuit. The vehicle stopped in Alton, TX, where the driver and several occupants fled into the brush. After a search of the area, 18 migrants from Central America and Mexico were apprehended. TXDPS took custody of the driver to face state charges.  

Hours later, RGV agents, with assistance from the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office, apprehended 3 subjects in a human smuggling stash house located in Donna. Agents identified all subjects to be illegally present in the United States. The subjects were citizens of Mexico and El Salvador. No caretaker was identified. 

Yesterday evening, Falfurrias Border Patrol agents responded to a request for assistance from the Brooks County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) on a vehicle stop which resulted in a bailout. Agents determined two passengers were unlawfully present in the U.S. BCSO officers seized the vehicle. The migrants who are citizens of Mexico and El Salvador were transported to a Border Patrol facility. The driver was not located. 

All subjects will be processed accordingly.   

The public is encouraged to take a stand against crime in their communities and to help save lives by reporting suspicious activity.

Source: CBP

The incident occurred on July 26, when agents spotted a suspicious box truck travelling on State Highway 359. The driver drove off the highway through a ranch fence near the town.  The occupants attempted to flee the abandoned vehicle into the nearby brush. Agents apprehended 13 undocumented individuals. The migrants were from the countries of Guatemala and Mexico.

Border Patrol agents also apprehended a U.S. citizen who was in the vehicle. He was identified as Alfredo Jesus Landeros, with an active warrant with U.S. Marshal Service. Constables took custody of the driver.

Help us take a stand against criminal smuggling organisations by reporting suspicious activity to Laredo Sector Border Patrol.

Source: CBP