(10) In order to ensure a high and consistent degree of protection for individuals and to remove obstacles to the flow of personal data within the Union, it is necessary to ensure that the rights and freedoms of individuals in relation to the processing of such data are equally protected in all Member States. It should be ensured that the provisions on the protection of the fundamental rights and freedoms of natural persons in connection with the processing of personal data are applied consistently and uniformly throughout the Union. When it comes to the processing of personal data for the performance of a legal obligation, for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller, Member States should be able to retain or introduce national provisions clarifying the application of the provisions of this Regulation. In addition to the general, horizontal data protection law implementing Directive 95/46/EC, Member States have adopted sectoral regulations in areas requiring more specific provisions. This Regulation also allows Member States to clarify its provisions, including with regard to the processing of special categories of personal data (hereinafter "sensitive data"). In this regard, this Regulation does not exclude the possibility of specifying in Member State law the circumstances relating to specific data processing situations, including the specification of the conditions that determine the lawfulness of processing