What is „Safe Harbour” Programme?
The Directive 95/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 1995 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data prohibits, as a rule, the transmission of personal data do countries not guaranteeing the adequate level of data protection. Taking the differences between legal systems of the European Union and the United States into account the latter can not be regarded as a country safeguarding the appropriate level of the protection of personal data. Having regard to the fact that such situation hampers the economic exchange between the European Union and the United States the US Department of Commerce in consultation with the European Commission developed a "Safe Harbour" framework allowing the American economic entities to meet requirements of the said Directive. Certification of the participating entities to the "Safe Harbour" programme assures that they provide adequate level of personal data protection specified by provisions of the Directive 95/46/EC.
The "Safe Harbour" programme was approved by the European Union by means of Commission Decision 2000/520/EC of 26 July 2000 (O.J. L 215, 25.08.2000 p. 0007-0047).
More information on the "Safe Harbour" framework can be found on http://www.export.gov/safeharbor.
In order to investigate and resolve complaint lodged by individuals for alleged infringement of the "Safe Harbour" principles there was created a special Panel composed of the representatives of various EU personal data protection authorities.
More information on the Panel can be found on http://forum.europa.eu.int/Public/irc/secureida/safeharbor/home.
Complaints about infringement of the "Safe Harbour" data protection principles may be brought on the special form.


