As Declaration No 21 on the protection of personal data in the fields of judicial cooperation in criminal matters and police cooperation, attached to the TEU and the TFEU, recognises the specificity of personal data processing in the law enforcement context, the data protection rules of Europol should be autonomous while at the same time consistent with other relevant data protection instruments applicable in the area of police cooperation in the Union.
Toisc go n-aithnítear sainiúlacht na próiseála ar shonraí pearsanta i gcomhthéacs fhorfheidhmiú an dlí le Dearbhú Uimh. 21 maidir le sonraí pearsanta a chosaint i réimse an chomhair bhreithiúnaigh in ábhair choiriúla agus an chomhair phóilíneachta atá i gceangal le CAE agus le CFAE, ba cheart do rialacha Europol ar chosaint sonraí a bheith neamhspleách, agus ag an am céanna comhleanúnach le hionstraimí ábhartha eile um chosaint sonraí a bhfuil feidhm acu i réimse an chomhair phóilíneachta san Aontas.