The Polish candidate Wojciech Wiewiórowski was chosen by the Member States’ ambassadors to the EU (Coreper) to take up the post of European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) on Friday 22 November, following an indicative and secret vote (see EUROPE 12371/26).
With 62 points, Mr Wiewiórowski far outdistanced the French candidate, Yann Padova, who obtained 44 points, and the Hungarian candidate, Endre Győző Szabó, who obtained 32, according to a European source. Each delegation was asked to award three points to its preferred candidate and, in descending order of preference, two and one point(s) respectively to the other candidates.
Already an Assistant Supervisor, Wojciech Wiewiórowski took over the reins of the institution after Giovanni Buttarelli’s death at the end of August (see EUROPE 12310/13). His proven experience in data protection at the European level is undoubtedly what made the difference compared to his competitors during the hearings held on Wednesday 20 November at Coreper (see EUROPE 12373/14).
On 26 November, it will be the turn of Parliament’s Civil Liberties Committee (LIBE) to make its choice. Negotiations between the co-legislators can then begin to appoint the next EDPS by mutual agreement. (Original version in French by Marion Fontana)