Brussels, 23/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - More power and closer relations with the Council, these are the objectives of the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS), Peter Hustinx, who unveiled his 2013-2014 strategy on Tuesday evening.
The supervisor has laid down “three strategic” objectives for his institution, which will, amongst other things, be working in a context of budget cuts, he stated: promoting a “data protection culture” within the institutions and bodies of the EU “to allow them to meet their obligations and take responsibility as regards data protection requirements, ensuring that the European legislator (Commission, Council, EP) are aware of these same requirements and bear them in mind throughout the legislative initiative process, improving cooperation with the national data protection authorities within the 'Article 29' group, but also improving the use of human, financial, technical and organisational resources”. These missions are particularly important as “technologies are constantly evolving” and the exchange of personal data is increasing, explained Peter Hustinx. The Treaty of Lisbon, the EDPS pointed out, also stepped up requirements on monitoring the treatment of personal data, giving the institution more weight but also putting greater pressure on “limited resources”. This means that the EDPS will have to do more with the resources available to him. His objectives also include improving relations with the Council. Although the Commission plays ball with the EDPS and regularly involves him in its legislative process and invites him to informal meetings, the Council has not shown much inclination to invite the EDPS to its meetings, even formal ones, said Peter Hustinx. He hopes to see this trend reverse, hoping that the Council will treat the EDPS as a proper partner. Attending the event, the Commissioners for Home Affairs and Fundamental Rights, Cecilia Malmström and Viviane Reding respectively, reiterated the importance of their cooperation with the EDPS. The Dutch Liberal member, Sophia In't Veld (ADLE), a proponent of data protection at the EP and who actively worked, inter alia, against the PNR agreements with the United States was also there and lamented the fact that the EU can sometimes go against the rules it has itself laid down. “All too often, we have legislation which is not in line with our own rules”, she said. However, “we do not have the luxury of ignoring them”. (SP/transl.fl)