BRUSSELS—The Article 31 committee of national representatives to the European Commission waved through the controversial Privacy Shield legislation on Friday morning with no votes against, confirming earlier whispers to Ars.

However four countries abstained—Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, and Bulgaria. Once carried, the remainder of the meeting moved on to dealing with implementation questions.

European commissioners Andrus Ansip and Vera Jourova welcomed the news, saying in a joint statement:

Today member states have given their strong support to the EU-US Privacy Shield, the renewed safe framework for transatlantic data flows. This paves the way for the formal adoption of the legal texts and for getting the Privacy Shield up and running. The EU-US Privacy Shield will ensure a high level of protection for individuals and legal certainty for business. It is fundamentally different from the old Safe Harbour; it imposes clear and strong obligations on companies handling the data and makes sure that these rules are followed and enforced in practice. Today's vote by the member states is a strong sign of confidence.

The Business Software Alliance was similarly buoyed by the move: “The deal will allow for the continuation of data transfers across the Atlantic, which are crucial to everyone who relies on the Internet for commerce, communications, or otherwise”.

Meanwhile, former US Federal Trade Commission chief Julie Brill wrote in an opinion for Euractiv that Privacy Shield is “a solution ... at hand that will enhance real, enforceable privacy protections on both sides of the Atlantic.”

Once the so-called adequacy decision is approved by the European Commission—a mere rubber-stamping exercise at this point—the deal will be signed with the US.

It's expected to take place on Tuesday, but Commission sources would only confirm to Ars that it would happen next week.