In what it is describing as "the world's largest area of safe data flows," the European Commission announced it has reached a "reciprocal adequacy" agreement with Japan. Both sides have "agreed to recognise each other's data protection systems as 'equivalent,' which will allow data to flow safely between the EU and Japan." The commission is planning to adopt the adequacy decision "in autumn this year." It will need approval on the draft adequacy decision by the College; an opinion from the European Data Protection Board, as well as a comitology procedure; an update from the European Parliament's LIBE committee; and adoption of the adequacy decision by the College. Japan will also need to finalize the finding through its internal procedures. EU Justice Commissioner Věra Jourová said, "Data is the fuel of global economy and this agreement will allow for data to travel safely between us to the benefit of both our citizens and our economies." 
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