This doctoral thesis deals with "automatic data exchange in the field of financial services". Starting with the Council directive 2003/48/EC fundamental terms and their relationship to the Austrian banking secrecy are analysed. In the chapter "Informationsverbundsysteme" demonstrative examples of Austrian databases providing access at any time as well as their German counterparts are presented: The focus is laid on the Austrian databases "Warnliste der österreichischen Kreditinstitute zum Zweck

more »

... des Gläubigerschutzes und der Risikominimierung durch Hinweis auf vertragswidriges Kundenverhalten", "Kleinkreditevidenz (Konsumentenkreditevidenz) zum Zweck des Gläubigerschutzes und der Risikominimierung" as well as other credit rating databases. They prove that statutory rules are necessary. The following part reflects on data protection in regard to admissibility of national or international data processing within the meaning of the Directive 1995/46/EC of the European Parliament and the Council - practical examination steps concerning the admissibility are given. Differing terminology of Austrian and European regulations in this field can lead to misunderstandings and should be eliminated. Finally the thesis gives an overview on the most important national and European fundamental rights in the field of data protection, especially the rights defined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. The conclusions show concrete need of action in order to develop the law. The thesis aims to clarify data protection problems in the field of financial services and names necessary amendments of data protection law. To deepen knowledge of data protection law in the field of financial services, the thesis also discusses the SWIFT-Agreement, which allows to exchange millions of standardised financial messages every day, its relationship to money laundering and counter-terrorist regulations, EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) and SEPA (Single European Payment Area).