Brussels, 08/12/2014 (Agence Europe) - The institutions and bodies of the EU must find a balance between transparency and the interests of the public and the data protection rights of individuals when managing the declarations of the conflicts of interest of people working for them. This was the statement made in a press release, on Monday 8 December, by the new European Data Protection Supervisor, Giovanni Buttarelli, commenting on the new EDPS guidelines on the collection and publication of personal data in the framework of the management of conflicts of interest.
The institutions of the EU collect declarations of interests for certain categories of individuals whose positions require a high level of impartiality - such as MEPs, Commissioners, senior officials and the holders of political and sensitive posts. The publication of certain declarations of interests is therefore legitimate, as it serves to reinforce public trust in the institutions of the EU, states the EDPS. The institutions must carefully consider which information to be made public, verify whether those concerned have decision-making roles and the extent to which the disclosure would impact on their private life.
The EDPS guidelines have been developed for the institutions of the EU, but more broadly for the public sector and international organisations as well. (SP)