Lawyers shortlisted for EU data chief post – Italian-Polish partnership to safeguard personal data in EU

Two French corporate lawyers working for American firms and a high-ranking EU official vied to replace Peter Hustinx as the next European data protection supervisor (EDPS).

All three were interviewed on 20 October 2014 by Members of the European Parliament in the civil liberties committee as Mr Hustinx plans to step down and retire.

On the following day, Civil Liberties Committee (LIBE) chose Giovanni Buttarelli to become the new European Data Protection Supervisor, with Wojciech Rafał Wiewiórowski as his second in command.

The EDPS was set up in 2004 as an independent supervisory authority. Part of its task is to provide advice on policies and legislation that affect privacy.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Pressure grows over EU data watchdog replacement http://www.europeansources.info/record/pressure-grows-over-eu-data-watchdog-replacement/

European Parliament: Press Release, 20.10.14: Safeguarding your privacy: appointing Europe's new data protection watchdog http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20141017STO74407/

EurActiv, 22.10.14: Italian-Polish partnership to safeguard personal data in EU http://www.euractiv.com/sections/infosociety/italian-polish-partnership-safeguard-personal-data-eu-309397

European Parliament: Press Release, 21.10.14: Civil liberties MEPs vote on their preferences for EU data protection watchdog http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20141021IPR75439/

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