Events

Today, experts in data protection and privacy and high profile representatives of European Institutions, National Data Protection Authorities and legal practitioners gathered at a conference at the BOZAR, Brussels on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the European Data Protection Supervisor.

Jacob Kohnstamm, Chairman of the Article 29 Working Party, Gilles Dekerchove, EU anti-terrorist coordinator, Sophie In’t Veld, MEP and Francoise Le Bail, Director General DG Justice were among the speakers. Their speeches highlighted key points in the history of the institution and commended the EDPS’ role and contribution to the progress made in data protection in the EU and beyond.

Data Protection anno 2014: How to Restore Trust? is a book that reflects on privacy and personal data protection in Europe and the United States at the beginning of 2014. With contributions from a number of prominent scholars, legal practitioners, regulators and politicians from Europe as well as the United States, the book was compiled in honour of Peter Hustinx, the first European Data Protection Supervisor, who will step down in 2014 following a distinguished career in office.

Peter Hustinx, EDPS, received the first European Data Protection Award from the Confederation of European Data Protection Organisations (CEDPO). The award is a token of recognition by the data protection community and was presented to him at an international privacy conference held at the University of Castellon, Spain organised by professor Artemi Rallo Lombarte, former director of the Spanish Data Protection Authority.

CEDPO was founded in September 2011 by European Data Protection Organisations, namely, AFCDP (Association Française des Correspondants à la Protection des Données à Caractère Personnel) of France, APEP (Asociación Profesional Española de Privacidad) of Spain, GDD (Gesellschaft für Datenschutz und Datensicherheit) of Germany and NGFG (Nederlands Genootschap van Functionarissen voor de Gegevensbescherming) of the Netherlands.

CEDPO aims are to promote the role of the Data Protection Officer, to provide advice on balanced, practicable and effective data protection and to contribute to a better harmonisation of data protection law and practices in the EU/EEA.

This year’s conference organised by the Academy of European Law (ERA) in cooperation with the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) will mainly focus on the role of cloud computing services and social networks in applying EU data protection law. It will also provide participants with an update on the current legislative proposals at EU level (COM(2012)10 and COM(2012)11) and the most recent case law of the CJEU. The key topics will also include: EU data sovereignty and cross-border data transfers to third countries as well as PRISM and data protection. Peter Hustinx will be among the speakers.

Programme here.

The EU institutions will once again mark the anniversary of the Schuman Declaration and celebrate the festival of Europe with an open door day in Brussels.

We would be delighted to welcome you to the EDPS stand in the European Parliament (Brussels, Place du Luxembourg, 1st floor, ASP building) from 10am to 4pm.
 
Come and chat with us about your privacy rights, ask questions about protecting your personal information whether you're applying for a job, using your smart phone or shopping online. As well as taking away some goodies and information materials, you can take part in our fun quiz with the chance to win one of 20 USB sticks!

For more information: www.europa.eu/opendoors or contact EDPS-Events@edps.europa.eu.

As part of his Strategy for excellence 2013/2014, the EDPS organised a workshop dedicated to the Smart Borders package. The aim of the round table was to share experiences from countries that implemented similar systems and to have a debate on the implications for data protection of both legislative proposals.

The EDPS will in the coming months issue an opinion on the Smart Borders package.