Electronic communications: processing of personal data, protection of privacy

The common position, including numerous EP amendments has introduced important clarifications and improvements to the original Commission text. The Commission can therefore support the new text and recommend it to the European Parliament. For the second reading it is important to note that the present draft Directive is part of a wider electronic communications regulatory package consisting of four other Directives and a Decision. Since full agreement has been reached between the institutions on the rest of the package on 13 December 2001, it is very important to try and achieve rapid agreement on this draft Directive too, in order minimise the delay and hopefully still allow a streamlined date of application for all 6 new legal instruments.�