Press Releases

The EDPS issued on 25 April 2023 three Opinions on three Proposals of the European Commission that are part of the “Road Safety package”.

Despite tumultuous global events, this year has also been one of aspiration and development, with the aim of creating a tomorrow that can effectively tackle the challenges of today, said the European Data Protection Supervisor, Wojciech Wiewiórowski, as he presented his Annual Report 2022.

Launched in March 2023, the EDPS is taking part in the European Data Protection Board’s (EDPB) Coordinated Enforcement Action on the role and tasks of data protection officers, alongside 26 data protection authorities of the EU and the European Economic Area (EU/EEA).

In February 2023, the EDPS has started piloting the use of the Open Source Software Nextcloud and Collabora Online (based on LibreOffice technology). Together, they offer the possibility to share files, send messages, make video calls, and allows collaborative drafting, in a secured cloud environment.

The EDPS has issued an Opinion on two legislative Proposals on the collection and transfer of advance passenger information (API), which includes air passengers’ personal data included in their travel documents (passport or identity cards) that is collected during check-in.

In its Opinion published on 19 December 2022, the EDPS welcomes the proposed Regulation aiming to increase the use of instant credit transfers, in an efficient and accurate way.

The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) and the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which establishes a strategic cooperation framework between them.

The EDPS published today its Opinion on a proposed Regulation laying down cybersecurity requirements for products with digital elements. Concretely, the proposed Regulation aims to set out EU-wide cybersecurity requirements for a broad range of hardware and software products and their remote data processing solutions.

In its Opinion published today, the EDPS welcomes the objectives pursued in the proposed EU Media Freedom Act to protect media freedom, independence and pluralism across the EU. Media freedom is a precondition for the functioning of media services in the EU’s internal market and, more importantly, a key enabler for the rule of law and democratic accountability in the EU.

In its Opinion published on 13 October 2022, the EDPS welcomes the opening of negotiations for a Council of Europe convention on artificial intelligence, human rights, democracy and the rule of law (Convention).

On 16 September 2022, the EDPS requested that the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) annuls two provisions of the newly amended Europol Regulation, which came into force on 28 June 2022. The two provisions have an impact on personal data operations carried out in the past by Europol.

“We are deeply concerned that the 2023 budget, if not substantially increased, will be significantly too small to allow the EDPB and the EDPS to fulfil their tasks appropriately,” Andrea Jelinek, Chair of the European Data Protection Board (EDPB), and Wojciech Wiewiórowski, European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS), write in an Open Letter to the European Parliament and the European Council.

Brussels, 29 July - The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) and the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) adopted a Joint Opinion on the Proposal for a Regulation to prevent and combat child sexual abuse.

While supporting the Proposal for a Regulation on geographical indications for wine, spirits, agricultural products, and quality schemes for agricultural products in its Opinion published today, the EDPS recommends that a number of measures related to the processing of personal data are clarified and added.

In its Opinion published today on the European Commission’s Proposal for a Directive on recovery and confiscation of assets, the EDPS recognises that processing personal data in this context is liable to have a significant impact on the individuals concerned and constitutes an interference with individuals’ rights guaranteed by the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, including the right to data protection.

Brussels, 14 July - The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) and the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) have adopted their Joint Opinion on the European Commission’s Proposal for the European Health Data Space (EHDS). The Proposal aims to facilitate the creation of a European Health Union and to enable the EU to make full use of the potential offered by a safe and secure exchange, use and reuse of health data.

In its Opinion published today, the EDPS fully supports the goals of the proposed amendments to the financial rules on the general budget of the European Union, but strongly recommends specifying the types of personal data to be processed, from where this data is sourced, as well as the means and duration of the processing.  

Following the publication of the amended Europol Regulation in the Official Journal of the EU today, the EDPS expresses its concerns that the amendments, which will enter into force on 28 June 2022, weaken the fundamental right to data protection and do not ensure an appropriate oversight of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol).

This week, on 16 and 17 June 2022, European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) Wojciech Wiewiórowski welcomed over 2000 participants, both in-person and remotely, at his conference titled, “The future of data protection: effective enforcement in the digital world”.

With a line-up of over 100 distinguished speakers sharing their different views and visions, a total of 16 breakout sessions, workshops, and more, the two-day conference of the EDPS fostered crucial conversations on the future of data protection.

The EDPS published on 18 May 2022 its Opinion concerning the EU’s participation in the United Nations’ negotiations for a Comprehensive International Convention on Countering the Use of Information and Communications Technologies for Criminal Purposes (the future UN convention on cybercrime).