A cross-party group of 22 MEPs has asked the European Commission to urgently assess whether a recent US Supreme Court ruling that weakens the independence of federal oversight bodies could undermine the legal basis of the EU–US Data Privacy Framework, and to prepare contingency measures for European data sovereignty. The written question, tabled on 8 July 2026, warns that the stability of transatlantic data transfers depends on effective and independent US oversight, and that the ruling exposes the EU to external legal and political developments.
The MEPs, led by Aura Salla (PPE, Finland) and including members from the PPE, S&D, Renew, Verts/ALE, and The Left groups, ask three concrete questions: whether the Commission will assess the ruling's implications for the framework's validity; what steps it is taking to strengthen European data sovereignty and reduce dependence on non-EU data transfer mechanisms; and whether it is preparing contingency measures, including an orderly transition, should the framework become legally unsustainable. The questions signal a push for the Commission to move beyond reliance on the current adequacy decision and toward more autonomous European data infrastructure.
The Commission typically has six weeks to reply. Its answer will indicate whether it sees the ruling as a material risk to the framework and how seriously it is considering backup options. The MEPs' initiative reflects growing concern in the European Parliament that the EU's digital sovereignty remains vulnerable to US judicial and legislative changes, even after the 2023 Data Privacy Framework replaced the invalidated Privacy Shield.