January

Romania will adopt the EU's General Data Protection Regulation in May 2018, meaning companies will be required to have integrated personal data storage and processing information systems.
 
Failure to comply with the new regulation will result in large fines. However, Secretary of State Cristian Cucu added that the new regulation is not a directive, "which means that there is no requirement to transpose it into national legislation."
 
He also described himself as a supporter of the idea of IT specialization and that in this regard Romania needs to find its position in the European Union.

The Head of the Spanish Data Protection Authority (AEPD) recently announced in the VI IAB Congress that a draft bill to reform the current Spanish Data Protection Act (LOPD) will be submitted in February.

The initiative aims to bring the Spanish data protection regime up to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

It is anticipated that the new law will cover most of the GDPR derogations and provide a conservative interpretation of GDPR, where possible, in line with the current application of the LOPD and case law.

Ministers recently were urged to cut National Insurance contributions for firms that "actively" employ former convicts as part of efforts to tackle re-offending rates.

The Commons Work and Pensions Committee outlined a plan that supports the statistic that released prisoners who find jobs are far less likely to return to lives of crime. The Committee encouraged moves to remove the criminal record disclosure section on initial job applications for most civil service roles and recommended that the Government extend "ban the box" to all public bodies. Most would agree that employment support for offenders begins in prison with active work opportunities through Release on Temporary License.

The Government supports the importance of a smooth transition and introduced the Through the Gate provision in 2015. Provided by Community Rehabilitation Companies, services of the provision include support finding employment, securing accommodation, finance and debt advice, as well as help for victims of domestic abuse.