They confirm that a key to Europe s market is within industry s reach and that businesses have options beyond relying on government-negotiated safe harbors if they wish to proceed with business plans in Europe. The nations of the European Union are a growing market of 350 million people.
Governments are stable and committed to promoting computer literacy.
Commercial infrastructures are well established, and with the advent of a common currency, increasingly able to accommodate trade across national borders. Access to one member state thus offers facilitated access to the entire continent. American companies may find such opportunities well worth the efforts to adapt their business practices to the EU s Privacy Directive. Negotiations are ongoing and now concern a new safe harbor proposal issued by the Department of Commerce. Whether or not these negotiations are successful, American companies already doing business in Europe, or wishing to expand into Europe, will find a growing body of guidance to assist them in evaluating how to adapt their business practices to the Directive.