EU foreign ministers agree draft accord on cross-border data flows
A three-year technical framework meant to unlock stalled trade talks. Britain is not a signatory but ministers said Whitehall would “follow the detail closely”.
EU foreign ministers, meeting in Brussels on Tuesday, have agreed the outline of a three-year technical framework on cross-border data flows, aimed at unlocking a set of trade talks that have stalled since spring.
The draft accord, seen by The Ledger, sets common minimums on data-residency rules and a shared arbitration mechanism for disputes. It is deliberately narrow: officials described the document as “boring on purpose”.
Britain is not a signatory but Foreign Office sources said the government would “follow the detail closely” and expected to open its own bilateral discussions in the autumn.