CINXE.COM
Our role as an advisor | European Data Protection Supervisor
<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en" dir="ltr" prefix="og: https://ogp.me/ns#"> <head> <meta charset="utf-8" /> <meta name="description" content="The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) is the data protection authority for the European Union institutions, bodies and agencies (EU institutions). The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) recognises and strengthens the powers of all data protection supervisory authorities to advise ..." /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.edps.europa.eu/data-protection/our-role-advisor_en" /> <meta name="robots" content="index, follow" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="European Data Protection Supervisor" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.edps.europa.eu/data-protection/our-role-advisor_en" /> <meta property="og:title" content="Our role as an advisor" /> <meta property="og:description" content="The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) is the data protection authority for the European Union institutions, bodies and agencies (EU institutions). The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) recognises and strengthens the powers of all data protection supervisory authorities to advise ..." /> <meta property="og:image" content="https://www.edps.europa.eu/themes/custom/edpsweb_theme/og_image.png" /> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge,chrome=1" /> <meta name="MobileOptimized" content="width" /> <meta name="HandheldFriendly" content="true" /> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1, shrink-to-fit=no" /> <meta http-equiv="x-ua-compatible" content="ie=edge" /> <link rel="icon" href="/themes/custom/edpsweb_theme/favicon.ico" type="image/vnd.microsoft.icon" /> <link rel="alternate" hreflang="de" href="https://www.edps.europa.eu/data-protection/our-role-advisor_de" /> <link rel="alternate" hreflang="en" href="https://www.edps.europa.eu/data-protection/our-role-advisor_en" /> <link rel="alternate" hreflang="fr" href="https://www.edps.europa.eu/data-protection/our-role-advisor_fr" /> <title>Our role as an advisor | European Data Protection Supervisor</title> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/align.module.css?snk5ny" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/fieldgroup.module.css?snk5ny" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/container-inline.module.css?snk5ny" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/clearfix.module.css?snk5ny" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/details.module.css?snk5ny" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/hidden.module.css?snk5ny" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/item-list.module.css?snk5ny" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/js.module.css?snk5ny" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/nowrap.module.css?snk5ny" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/position-container.module.css?snk5ny" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/reset-appearance.module.css?snk5ny" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/resize.module.css?snk5ny" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/system-status-counter.css?snk5ny" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/system-status-report-counters.css?snk5ny" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/system-status-report-general-info.css?snk5ny" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/tablesort.module.css?snk5ny" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/modules/custom/edps_cookies/css/cookies-popup.css?snk5ny" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/views/css/views.module.css?snk5ny" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/themes/contrib/bootstrap_barrio/css/components/node.css?snk5ny" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/themes/custom/edpsweb_theme/build/css/edpsweb_theme.min.css?snk5ny" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/themes/contrib/bootstrap_barrio/css/components/breadcrumb.css?snk5ny" /> <link rel="me" href="https://social.network.europa.eu/@EDPS"> </head> <body class="layout-one-sidebar layout-sidebar-second page-node-35 path-node node--type-edpsweb-page"> <a href="#main-content" class="visually-hidden focusable skip-link"> Skip to main content </a> <script type="application/json">{"utility":"globan","theme":"light","logo":true,"link":true,"mode":false}</script> <div class="dialog-off-canvas-main-canvas" data-off-canvas-main-canvas> <div id="page-wrapper"> <div id="page"> <header id="header" class="header" role="banner" aria-label="Site header"> <nav class="navbar navbar-light bg-white" id="navbar-top"> <div class="container"> <div class="top-headers"> <section class="region region-top-header"> <div class="system-branding"> <a href="/_en" title="Home" rel="home" class="navbar-brand"> <img src="/themes/custom/edpsweb_theme/logo.svg" alt="Home" class="img-fluid" /> </a> <div class="site-infos"> <div class="site-name">European Data Protection Supervisor</div> <div class="site-slogan"></div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="region region-top-header-right"> <div class="language-switcher-oe-multilingual-url-suffix-negotiation-method block block-language block-language-blocklanguage-interface" id="block-edpsweb-theme-language-switcher" role="navigation"> <div class="content"> <div class="links dropdown"><button class="btn btn-link dropdown-toggle" type="button" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false"> English (en) </button><ul class="dropdown-menu"><li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/data-protection/our-role-advisor_de" class="language-link" hreflang="de" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/35">Deutsch (de)</a> </li><li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/data-protection/our-role-advisor_fr" class="language-link" hreflang="fr" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/35">français (fr)</a> </li></ul> </div> </div> </div> <div> <ul class="social-links"> <li> <a href="https://twitter.com/EU_EDPS" class="social-link social-link-x" title="EDPS on X" rel="noopener" target="_blank"> <span class="sr-only">X</span> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://social.network.europa.eu/@EDPS" class="social-link social-link-mastodon" title="EDPS on EU Voice" rel="noopener" target="_blank"> <span class="sr-only">EU Voice</span> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/edps" class="social-link social-link-linkedin" title="EDPS on Linkedin" rel="noopener" target="_blank"> <span class="sr-only">LinkedIn</span> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/eu_edps" class="social-link social-link-instagram" title="EDPS on Instagram" rel="noopener" target="_blank"> <span class="sr-only">Instagram</span> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2JlsePIpCNTQfTGTDGhUyd" class="social-link social-link-spotify" title="EDPS Podcasts on Spotify" rel="noopener" target="_blank"> <span class="sr-only">Spotify</span> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/EDPS2011" class="social-link social-link-youtube" title="EDPS on YouTube" rel="noopener" target="_blank"> <span class="sr-only">YouTube</span> </a> </li> <li> <a class="social-link social-link-peertube" href="https://tube.network.europa.eu/a/edps/video-channels" title="EDPS on EU Video" rel="noopener" target="_blank"> <span class="sr-only">EU Video</span> </a> </li> <li> <a href="/feed/news_en" class="social-link social-link-rss" title="EDPS RSS Feed" target="_blank"> <span class="sr-only">RSS Feed</span> </a> </li> </ul> <a class="dpn-header" href="/about-edps/data-protection-edps_en" title="Data Protection Notice">Data Protection Notice</a> </div> </section> </div> </div> </nav> <nav class="navbar navbar-dark bg-primary navbar-expand-md" id="navbar-main"> <div class="container"> <button class="navbar-toggler" type="button" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#collapsing-navbar" aria-controls="collapsing-navbar" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="Toggle navigation"> <i class="fas fa-bars"></i> </button> <span class="navbar-mobile-title">European Data Protection Supervisor</span> <div class="collapse navbar-collapse" id="collapsing-navbar"> <div class="navbar-collapse-content"> <button class="navbar-toggler" type="button" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#collapsing-navbar" aria-controls="collapsing-navbar" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="Toggle navigation"> <i class="fas fa-times"></i> </button> <nav role="navigation" aria-labelledby="block-edpsweb-theme-main-navigation-menu" id="block-edpsweb-theme-main-navigation" class="block block-menu navigation menu--main"> <h2 class="sr-only" id="block-edpsweb-theme-main-navigation-menu">Main navigation</h2> <ul id="block-edpsweb-theme-main-navigation" block="block-edpsweb-theme-main-navigation" class="clearfix nav navbar-nav"> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/_en" class="nav-link" data-drupal-link-system-path="<front>">Home</a> </li> <li class="nav-item menu-item--expanded dropdown"> <a href="/about-edps_en" class="nav-link" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="true" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/4">About</a> <ul class="dropdown-menu"> <a href="#" class="dropdown-menu-close"> <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-left"></i> </a> <li class="dropdown-item menu-item--expanded"> <a href="/about/supervisor_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/8">The Supervisor</a> <ul> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/about-edps/members-mission/supervisors/wojciech-wiewi%C3%B3rowski_en" data-display-title="1" data-hide-children="0" data-remove-class="0" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/3951">Wojciech Wiewiórowski</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/about/supervisor/secretary-general_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/12116">The Secretary-General</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/about-edps/members-mission/agenda_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="about-edps/members-mission/agenda">Agenda</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="dropdown-item menu-item--expanded"> <a href="/about-edps/edps-secretariat_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/3930">The Office of the EDPS</a> <ul> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/about/office-edps/edps-rules-procedure_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/10361">EDPS Rules of Procedure</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item menu-item--expanded"> <a href="/careers_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/19">Careers</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/about-edps/public-procurement_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/5436">Public procurement</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="dropdown-item menu-item--expanded"> <a href="/about-edps/data-protection-edps_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/20">Data Protection within the EDPS</a> <ul> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/about/data-protection-within-edps/data-protection-officer-edps_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/4004">The DPO at the EDPS</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/about/data-protection-within-edps/records-register_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/5005">Records Register</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/about-edps/legal-notices_en" data-display-title="1" data-hide-children="0" data-remove-class="0" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/21">Cookies</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="dropdown-item menu-item--expanded"> <a href="/about/about-us_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6221">About Us</a> <ul> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/about-edps/legal-notices/copyright_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/25">Copyright</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item menu-item--expanded"> <a href="/about-edps/contact_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/11">Contact Us</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="dropdown-item menu-item--expanded"> <a href="/about/transparency-and-access-documents_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/8331">Transparency and Access to Documents</a> <ul> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/about/transparency/public-access-documents-register_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/7761">Public Access to Documents Register</a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="nav-item menu-item--expanded active dropdown"> <a href="/data-protection_en" class="nav-link active" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="true" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/5">Data Protection</a> <ul class="dropdown-menu"> <a href="#" class="dropdown-menu-close"> <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-left"></i> </a> <li class="dropdown-item menu-item--expanded"> <a href="/data-protection/data-protection_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/26">Data Protection</a> <ul> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/data-protection/data-protection/legislation_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/27">Legislation</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/data-protection/data-protection/legislation/history-general-data-protection-regulation_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/2866">The History of the GDPR</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item menu-item--collapsed"> <a href="/data-protection/data-protection/reference-library_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/29">Reference Library</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/data-protection/data-protection/case-law-and-guidance_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/30">Court Cases</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item menu-item--collapsed"> <a href="/data-protection/data-protection/glossary_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/3094">Glossary</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="dropdown-item menu-item--expanded"> <a href="/data-protection/our-role-supervisor_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/31">Our role as a supervisor</a> <ul> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="https://www.edps.europa.eu/data-protection/our-work/our-work-by-type/audits_en">Audits</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/data-protection/our-role-supervisor/complaints_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/905">Complaints</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="https://edps.europa.eu/data-protection/our-work/our-work-by-type/investigations_en">Investigations</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="https://edps.europa.eu/data-protection/our-work/our-work-by-type/opinions-prior-check-and-prior-consultations_en">Prior Consultations</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="https://edps.europa.eu/data-protection/our-work/our-work-by-type/supervisory-opinions_en">Supervisory Opinions</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="https://edps.europa.eu/data-protection/our-work/our-work-by-type/authorisation-decisions-transfers_en">International Transfers</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/data-protection/our-role-supervisor/personal-data-breach_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/5046">Personal Data Breach</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/data-protection/our-role-supervisor/use-edps-powers_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6202">Use of EDPS Powers</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="dropdown-item menu-item--expanded active"> <a href="/data-protection/our-role-advisor_en" class="active is-active" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/35" aria-current="page">Our role as an advisor</a> <ul> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="https://edps.europa.eu/data-protection/our-work/our-work-by-type/opinions_en">Opinions</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="https://edps.europa.eu/data-protection/our-work/our-work-by-type/formal-comments_en">Formal Comments</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="https://edps.europa.eu/data-protection/our-work/our-work-by-type/joint-opinions_en">Joint Opinions</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="dropdown-item menu-item--expanded"> <a href="/data-protection/technology-monitoring_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/45">Technology Monitoring</a> <ul> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/data-protection/our-work/our-work-by-type/techdispatch_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/345">TechDispatch</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item menu-item--collapsed"> <a href="/data-protection/technology-monitoring/techsonar_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/7590">TechSonar</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item menu-item--expanded"> <a href="/data-protection/ipen-internet-privacy-engineering-network_en" data-display-title="1" data-hide-children="0" data-remove-class="0" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/47">IPEN</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/data-protection/technology-monitoring/data-protection-and-privacy-tools_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/13034">Data Protection and Privacy Tools</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="dropdown-item menu-item--expanded"> <a href="/data-protection/our-work_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/42">Our work</a> <ul> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/data-protection/our-work/international-cooperation_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/44">International Cooperation</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item menu-item--collapsed"> <a href="/data-protection/our-work/cooperation-eu-dpas_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/13115">Cooperation with EU DPAs</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="dropdown-item menu-item--expanded"> <a href="/data-protection/eu-institutions-dpo_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/50">DPOs</a> <ul> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/data-protection/eu-institutions-dpo/network-dpos_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/53">DPO network list</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/data-protection/eu-institutions-dpo/reports_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/55">Survey reports</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/data-protection/dpos/edps-dpos-meetings_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/3208">EDPS-DPOs meetings</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/data-protection/supervision-coordination_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/37">Supervision Coordination</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/data-protection/links_en" data-display-title="1" data-hide-children="0" data-remove-class="0" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/56">Links</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item menu-item--expanded"> <a href="/data-protection/search-publications_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/3035">Search by:</a> <ul> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/data-protection/our-work/our-work-by-type_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="data-protection/our-work/our-work-by-type">Document</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/data-protection/our-work/subjects_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="data-protection/our-work/subjects">Topic</a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="nav-item menu-item--expanded dropdown"> <a href="/artificial-intelligence_en" class="nav-link" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="true" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/13612">Artificial Intelligence</a> <ul class="dropdown-menu"> <a href="#" class="dropdown-menu-close"> <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-left"></i> </a> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/artificial-intelligence/artificial-intelligence-act_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/13613">Artificial Intelligence Act</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="https://www.edps.europa.eu/data-protection/our-work/subjects/artificial-intelligence_en">Our work on AI</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="nav-item menu-item--expanded dropdown"> <a href="/press-publications_en" class="nav-link" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="true" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6">Press & Publications</a> <ul class="dropdown-menu"> <a href="#" class="dropdown-menu-close"> <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-left"></i> </a> <li class="dropdown-item menu-item--expanded"> <a href="/press-publications/press-news_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/62">Press & News</a> <ul> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/press-publications/press-news/news_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="press-publications/press-news/news">News</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/press-publications/press-news/press-releases_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="press-publications/press-news/press-releases">EDPS Press Releases</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="https://edpb.europa.eu/our-work-tools/our-documents/publication-type/press-releases_en">EDPB Press Releases</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/press-publications/press-news/blog_en" data-display-title="1" data-hide-children="0" data-remove-class="0" data-drupal-link-system-path="press-publications/press-news/blog">Blog</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/press-publications/press-news/videos_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="press-publications/press-news/videos">Videos</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/press-publications/press-news/pictures_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="press-publications/press-news/pictures">Pictures</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item menu-item--collapsed"> <a href="/press-publications/press-news/press-kit_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/63">Press Kit</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/data-protection/our-work/publications/brochures/edps-brochure-shaping-safer-digital-future_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6193">EDPS Brochure: Shaping a Safer Digital Future</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/frequently-asked-questions_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/5973">Frequently Asked Questions</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="dropdown-item menu-item--expanded"> <a href="/press-publications/publications_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/65">Publications</a> <ul> <li class="dropdown-item menu-item--collapsed"> <a href="/press-publications/publications/strategy_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/3902">Strategy</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/annual-reports_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/76">Annual Reports</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/press-publications/publications/speeches-articles_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/503">Speeches & Articles</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/press-publications/publications/annual-activity-reports_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/77">Annual Activity Reports</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="https://edps.europa.eu/data-protection/our-work/our-work-by-type/brochures_en">Brochures</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/press-publications/publications/factsheets_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/3901">Factsheets</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item menu-item--collapsed"> <a href="/press-publications/publications/newsletters_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/4231">Newsletters</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="https://edps.europa.eu/press-publications/publications/podcasts_en">Podcasts</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="dropdown-item menu-item--expanded"> <a href="/press-publications/events_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/3288">Events</a> <ul> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/european-conferences_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/4142">European Conferences</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/press-publications/events/international-conferences_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/4143">International Conferences</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="https://www.edps.europa.eu/data-protection/our-work/publications/book/2024-06-20-two-decades-personal-data-protection-whats-next_en">20th Anniversary Book</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/edps-inspection-software_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/5452">EDPS Inspection Software</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/comic-book_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/4938">Comic Book</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/press-publications/edps-support-independent-research-projects_en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/13141">EDPS support to independent research projects</a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </nav> <div class="form-inline navbar-form"> <form id="navbar-search-form" action="/search_en" method="get" accept-charset="UTF-8"> <div class="form-row"> <input placeholder="Search" type="text" name="search" size="30" maxlength="128" class="form-text form-control"> <button type="submit" value="Apply" class="form-submit btn btn-primary"><i class="fas fa-search"></i></button> </div> </form> </div> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </header> <div id="block-breadcrumbs" class="block block-system block-system-breadcrumb-block"> <div class="content"> <nav role="navigation" aria-label="breadcrumb"> <div class="container"> <ol class="breadcrumb"> <li class="breadcrumb-item"> <a href="/_en"> <i class="fas fa-home"></i> </a> </li> <li class="breadcrumb-item"> <a href="/data-protection_en"> Data Protection </a> </li> <li class="breadcrumb-item active"> Our role as an advisor </li> </ol> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div id="main-wrapper" class="layout-main-wrapper clearfix"> <div id="main" class="container"> <div class="row row-offcanvas row-offcanvas-left clearfix"> <main class="main-content col" id="content" role="main"> <section class="section"> <a id="main-content" tabindex="-1"></a> <div data-drupal-messages-fallback class="hidden"></div><div id="block-pagetitle" class="block block-core block-page-title-block"> <a href="javascript:void();" onclick="window.print();" class="print-button" title="Print page">Print</a> <script type="application/json"> { "service": "etrans", "languages": { "exclude": ["en", "ru", "uk", "zh"] }, "renderAs": { "icon": true, "button": false, "link": true }, "include": "main h1.title, #block-edpsweb-theme-main-page-content, #block-edpsweb-documents-details-block, #block-views-block-edpsweb-public-access-to-docs-register-block-1, #block-edpsweb-timeline-block, #block-edpsweb-newsletter-block, #block-edpsweb-publication-display-block" } </script> <div class="content"> <h1 class="title"><span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Our role as an advisor</span> </h1> </div> </div> <div id="block-edpsweb-theme-main-page-content" class="block block-system block-system-main-block"> <div class="content"> <article class="node node--type-edpsweb-page node--view-mode-full clearfix"> <header> </header> <div class="node__content clearfix"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-edpsweb-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) is the data protection authority for the European Union institutions, bodies and agencies (<a class="external-link" href="https://europa.eu/european-union/about-eu/institutions-bodies_en" rel="nofollow">EU institutions</a>).</p> <p>The General Data Protection Regulation (<a class="external-link" href="https://edps.europa.eu/node/2866" rel="nofollow">GDPR</a>) recognises and strengthens the powers of all data protection supervisory authorities to advise national parliaments, governments and other institutions and bodies on legislative and administrative measures relating to the protection of personal data. Similarly, Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 lays down the tasks and responsibilities of the EDPS in terms of legislative consultation.</p> <h3><strong>Our advisory mandate</strong></h3> <p>In addition to our <a class="external-link" href="https://edps.europa.eu/node/31" rel="nofollow">supervision</a> of the EU institutions, the EDPS also has a role as advisor on all matters relating to the processing of personal data.</p> <p>The new <a class="external-link" href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32018R1725" rel="nofollow">Regulation 2018/1725 </a>strengthens the consultative role of the EDPS, in line with the GDPR on the one hand, and consolidating the practices developed over the past 10+ years on the basis of Article 28(2) of Regulation 45/2001 on the other hand.</p> <p>In particular, Article 42(1) explicitly requires the Commission to consult the EDPS following the adoption of proposals for a legislative act, of recommendations and of proposals to the Council pursuant to Article 218 TFEU (i.e. international agreements) or when preparing delegated acts or implementing acts with “an impact on the protection of individuals’ rights and freedoms with regard to the processing of personal data”. Such advice has to be provided within eight weeks. Article 42(2) provides for the possibility to issue joint opinions with the European Data Protection Board (EDPB).</p> <h3><strong>Our approach</strong></h3> <p>We constructively engage with the Commission and with the EDPB to ensure appropriate procedures are put in place to facilitate the application of this consultation obligation in practice.</p> <p>We also continue our mission to provide advice to the EU legislator on other initiatives (e.g. soft law, communications and other policy instruments, positions of the EU and its institutions and bodies in international fora) that affect fundamental rights to personal data protection and privacy. We remain at the disposal of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission in order to provide advice at any stage of the decision-making process.</p> <h4><strong>Some guiding principles</strong></h4> <ul> <li>Similar to our approach in our supervision work, we aim to develop a culture of accountability whereby the institutions recognise their own responsibility to ensure the protection of personal data when developing new EU policies and legislation;</li> <li>We provide support to the EU institutions to be accountable: to help the legislators carry out their own assessment of proposed measures implying the processing of personal data, we have developed <a class="external-link" href="https://edps.europa.eu/data-protection/our-work/publications/papers/necessity-toolkit_en" rel="nofollow">a toolkit</a> on the concept of necessity;</li> <li>We aim to provide pragmatic advice by analysing the complexity of a proposal and take advantage of the experience gained in our supervision cases with the EU institutions; we look for constructive and workable solutions;</li> <li>As an advisor on all data protection matters at EU level, in addition to providing advice on a consultation by the Commission (or other institution), we also issue advice on our own initiative, when there is a matter of particular significance.</li> <li>We are not for or against any measure involving the processing of personal data and base our assessment and advice on the evidence justifying its need.</li> </ul> <h4><strong>How do we carry out our advisory task?</strong></h4> <ol> <li>Pursuant to recital 60 to the new <a class="external-link" href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32018R1725" rel="nofollow">Regulation 2018/1725</a>, the Commission should endeavour to consult the EDPS “when preparing proposals or recommendations”. We therefore remain at the disposal of the Commission services, as it was the case in the past, to be consulted informally at an early stage of internal decision-making procedures, so as to be able to address any data protection issues in the most efficient manner. <strong>We do not publish our informal comments.</strong></li> <li>Our <a class="external-link" href="https://edps.europa.eu/taxonomy/term/123" rel="nofollow">Opinions</a> and <a href="https://edps.europa.eu/data-protection/our-work/our-work-by-type/edps-edpb-joint-opinions_en">EDPS-EDPB Joint Opinions</a> relate to proposals for legislation and are addressed to all three EU institutions involved in the legislative process, with the aim of flagging our main data protection concerns together with our recommendations. These Opinions are made public and are available to read on this website.<em> </em>Summaries of the EDPS Opinions are also published in the Official Journal of the EU. We actively follow the developments in the European Parliament and the Council after providing advice, and we are available to them for further consultation during all stages of the legislative process (e.g. during meetings of shadow rapporteurs of the Parliament or of working groups of the Council).</li> <li>Our <a class="external-link" href="https://edps.europa.eu/data-protection/our-work/our-work-by-type/comments_en" rel="nofollow">formal comments</a> also address the data protection implications of proposals and soft law instruments in a different format to our Opinions. Our formal comments are available to read on this website.</li> <li>We may also <strong>intervene before the </strong><strong><a class="external-link" href="https://edps.europa.eu/data-protection/data-protection/case-law-and-guidance_en" rel="nofollow">EU courts</a></strong><strong> either at the invitation of the Court of justice of the EU or on behalf of one of the parties in a case to offer our data protection expertise</strong>. At the Court of Justice or the General Court, we can highlight specific data protection issues to ensure that individuals' fundamental rights to privacy and data protection are respected.</li> <li>The EDPS also<strong> </strong><strong><a class="external-link" href="https://edps.europa.eu/data-protection/our-work/technology-monitoring_en" rel="nofollow">monitors new technologies</a></strong><strong> or other societal changes</strong> that may have an impact on data protection. Where appropriate we issue an Opinion on our own initiative. However useful and attractive these technologies or changes may be, our aim is to highlight if the fundamental rights to protection of privacy and personal data in the EU are at risk and recommend ways to safeguard these rights.</li> </ol> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </section> </main> <div class="sidebar_second sidebar col-md-4 order-last" id="sidebar_second"> <aside class="section" role="complementary"> <div class="views-element-container block block-views block-views-blockedpsweb-news-block-edpsweb-news-side card" id="block-edpsweb-news-side"> <div class="card-header"> <div class="float-right"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-blue" href="/press-publications/press-news/news_en" title="+ View more news"> + <span class="d-none d-lg-inline">View more news</span></a> </div> <h2>News</h2> </div> <div class="card-body"> <div class="content"> <div><div class="view view-edpsweb-news view-id-edpsweb_news view-display-id-block_edpsweb_news_side js-view-dom-id-9fd1a6d613e43053c59976813802dbd6089b9f1be4fc1d8d3516a2e2645556f2"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="views-row"> <article class="node node--type-edpsweb-news node--promoted clearfix"> <a id="news_13893"></a> <header> </header> <div class="node__content clearfix"> <h3 class="node__title"> <a href="/press-publications/press-news/news_en?page=0#news_13893" rel="bookmark"><span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">EDPS-DPO Network: a unified approach to safeguarding personal data across EU institutions</span> </a> </h3> <div class="field field--name-field-edpsweb-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2024-11-27T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">27 November 2024</time> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-edpsweb-news-intro field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p><a href="https://www.edps.europa.eu/press-publications/press-news/blog/edps-dpo-network-unified-approach-safeguarding-personal-data-across-eu-institutions_en">Read blogpost by Leonardo Cervera Navas</a>. </p> </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="views-row"> <article class="node node--type-edpsweb-news node--promoted clearfix"> <a id="news_13878"></a> <header> </header> <div class="node__content clearfix"> <h3 class="node__title"> <a href="https://20years.edps.europa.eu/en/talks/katherine-race-brin" rel="bookmark"><span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">20 Talks with Katherine Race Brin with Wojciech Wiewiórowski</span> </a> </h3> <div class="field field--name-field-edpsweb-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2024-11-25T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">25 November 2024</time> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-edpsweb-news-intro field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Our special Talk is out! Today we welcome Ms Katherine Race Brin who was interviewed by Supervisor. Watch with us on our anniversary website.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-edpsweb-news-link field--type-link field--label-hidden field__item"><a href="https://20years.edps.europa.eu/en/talks/katherine-race-brin">Interview is here</a></div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="views-row"> <article class="node node--type-edpsweb-news node--promoted clearfix"> <a id="news_13876"></a> <header> </header> <div class="node__content clearfix"> <h3 class="node__title"> <a href="/press-publications/press-news/news_en?page=0#news_13876" rel="bookmark"><span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">A global and collective effort to embrace technologies in a human-centric way </span> </a> </h3> <div class="field field--name-field-edpsweb-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2024-11-19T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">19 November 2024</time> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-edpsweb-news-intro field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>On 18th - 19th November 2024, the EDPS co-hosted the 74th Meeting of the International Working Group on Data Protection in Technology. <a href="https://www.edps.europa.eu/press-publications/press-news/blog/global-and-collective-effort-embrace-technologies-human-centric-way_en">Read about the event in the Supervisor's blogpost</a>. </p> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="block-edpsweb-agenda-sidebar" class="block block-edps-agenda card"> <div class="card-header"> <div class="float-right"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-blue" href="/about-edps/members-mission/agenda_en" title="+ View full agenda"> + <span class="d-none d-lg-inline">View full agenda</span></a> </div> <h2>Agenda</h2> </div> <div class="card-body"> <div class="content"> <article class="node node--type-edpsweb-agenda node--promoted node--view-mode-teaser clearfix"> <a id="agenda_13886"></a> <header> <h3 class="node__title"> <time datetime="2024-12-03T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">3 December 2024</time> </h3> </header> <div class="node__content clearfix"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-edpsweb-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Participation by Wojciech Wiewiórowski in reception organised by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), Brussels, Belgium</p> </div> </div> </article> <article class="node node--type-edpsweb-agenda node--promoted node--view-mode-teaser clearfix"> <a id="agenda_13885"></a> <header> <h3 class="node__title"> <time datetime="2024-12-02T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">2 December 2024</time> </h3> </header> <div class="node__content clearfix"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-edpsweb-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>99th Plenary Session of the EDPB, Participation Wojciech Wiewiórowski, Brussels, Belgium</p> </div> </div> </article> <article class="node node--type-edpsweb-agenda node--promoted node--view-mode-teaser clearfix"> <a id="agenda_13884"></a> <header> <h3 class="node__title"> <time datetime="2024-11-28T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">28 November 2024</time> </h3> </header> <div class="node__content clearfix"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-edpsweb-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>"Transversal data protection enforcement issues", Speech by Wojciech Wiewiórowski at University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands</p> </div> </div> </article> <article class="node node--type-edpsweb-agenda node--promoted node--view-mode-teaser clearfix"> <a id="agenda_13883"></a> <header> <h3 class="node__title"> <time datetime="2024-11-27T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">27 November 2024</time> </h3> </header> <div class="node__content clearfix"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-edpsweb-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>EDPS-DPO Meeting, Keynote speech by Leonardo Cervera Navas and Closing remarks by Wojciech Wiewiórowski, Luxembourg</p> </div> </div> </article> <article class="node node--type-edpsweb-agenda node--promoted node--view-mode-teaser clearfix"> <a id="agenda_13881"></a> <header> <h3 class="node__title"> <time datetime="2024-11-26T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">26 November 2024</time> </h3> </header> <div class="node__content clearfix"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-edpsweb-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Wojciech Wiewiórowski gives lecture at ECPC Maastricht Advanced Masters in Privacy, Cybersecurity, and Data Protection at Fondation Universitaire Stichting, Brussels, Belgium</p> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> <footer class="site-footer"> <div class="container"> <section class="region region-footer"> <ul class="social-links"> <li> <a href="https://twitter.com/EU_EDPS" class="social-link social-link-x" title="EDPS on X" rel="noopener" target="_blank"> <span class="sr-only">X</span> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://social.network.europa.eu/@EDPS" class="social-link social-link-mastodon" title="EDPS on EU Voice" rel="noopener" target="_blank"> <span class="sr-only">EU Voice</span> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/edps" class="social-link social-link-linkedin" title="EDPS on Linkedin" rel="noopener" target="_blank"> <span class="sr-only">LinkedIn</span> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/eu_edps" class="social-link social-link-instagram" title="EDPS on Instagram" rel="noopener" target="_blank"> <span class="sr-only">Instagram</span> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2JlsePIpCNTQfTGTDGhUyd" class="social-link social-link-spotify" title="EDPS Podcasts on Spotify" rel="noopener" target="_blank"> <span class="sr-only">Spotify</span> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/EDPS2011" class="social-link social-link-youtube" title="EDPS on YouTube" rel="noopener" target="_blank"> <span class="sr-only">YouTube</span> </a> </li> <li> <a class="social-link social-link-peertube" href="https://tube.network.europa.eu/a/edps/video-channels" title="EDPS on EU Video" rel="noopener" target="_blank"> <span class="sr-only">EU Video</span> </a> </li> <li> <a href="/feed/news_en" class="social-link social-link-rss" title="EDPS RSS Feed" target="_blank"> <span class="sr-only">RSS Feed</span> </a> </li> </ul> <nav role="navigation" aria-labelledby="block-footerlinks-menu" id="block-footerlinks" class="block block-menu navigation menu--menu-edpsweb-footer-links"> <h2 class="sr-only" id="block-footerlinks-menu">Footer Links</h2> <ul block="block-footerlinks" class="clearfix nav"> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/about-edps/data-protection-edps_en" class="nav-link nav-link--about-edps-data-protection-edps-en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/20">Data Protection Notice</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/about-edps/legal-notices_en" class="nav-link nav-link--about-edps-legal-notices-en" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/21">Cookies</a> </li> </ul> </nav> </section> </div> </footer> </div> </div> </div> <script type="application/json" data-drupal-selector="drupal-settings-json">{"path":{"baseUrl":"\/","pathPrefix":"","currentPath":"node\/35","currentPathIsAdmin":false,"isFront":false,"currentLanguage":"en"},"pluralDelimiter":"\u0003","suppressDeprecationErrors":true,"edp_cookies_popup":{"popupHtml":"\u003Cdiv id=\u0022edp-cookies-banner\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cdiv class=\u0022banner-text\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003EThis website uses necessary cookies to function.\u003Cbr\/\u003E\r\nIf you give us your consent, we will also use cookies, when you visit our website, which allow us to collect data for aggregated statistics to improve our services.\u003Cbr\/\u003E\r\nMore information on \u003Ca href=\u0022\/about-edps\/legal-notices_en\u0022 title=\u0022Cookies\u0022\u003Ecookies\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022\/about-edps\/data-protection-edps_en\u0022 title=\u0022Data protection\u0022\u003Edata protection\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003Cdiv class=\u0022banner-buttons\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cbutton class=\u0022btn btn-default edp-cookies-accept\u0022 type=\u0022button\u0022\u003EAccept cookies for aggregated statistics\u003C\/button\u003E\n \u003Cbutton class=\u0022btn btn-default edp-cookies-refuse\u0022 type=\u0022button\u0022\u003ENo thanks, only necessary cookies\u003C\/button\u003E\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E","siteID":"9b49968a-a84a-46f8-adc5-ba3b6a2c7502","piwikURL":"https:\/\/webanalytics.europa.eu\/","expires":"180"},"user":{"uid":0,"permissionsHash":"83c478be4087ec168d2bca3268d0d09db64e824ee149cd3cd9d0534501857b74"}}</script> <script src="/core/assets/vendor/jquery/jquery.min.js?v=3.7.1"></script> <script src="/core/misc/drupalSettingsLoader.js?v=10.3.10"></script> <script src="/core/misc/drupal.js?v=10.3.10"></script> <script src="/core/misc/drupal.init.js?v=10.3.10"></script> <script src="/core/assets/vendor/js-cookie/js.cookie.min.js?v=3.0.5"></script> <script src="/modules/custom/edps_cookies/js/cookies-popup.js?v=1.x"></script> <script src="/themes/custom/edpsweb_theme/build/js/edpsweb_theme.min.js?v=10.3.10"></script> <script src="https://webtools.europa.eu/load.js" defer></script> </body> </html>