(Telecompaper) The European Council and Parliament have reached a compromise agreement on the new data protection directive, following three years of debate. Designed to replace the existing data protection directive from 1995, the new law aims to give consumers greater control over how their personal data is used, especially online. It also extends EU regulations to businesses based outside the region and handling data on EU residents. The legislation includes the General Data Protection Regulation, covering personal data controls and business data processing, and Data Protection Directive, covering access to personal data by law enforcement officials such as police and prosecutors. The Parliament and Council are expected to give their formal approval to the legislation in early 2016, after which member states will have two years to implement the new rules.