Wojciech Wiewiórowski appointed European Data Protection Supervisor

Mr Wojciech Wiewiórowski was appointed today by the Council as the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) for a mandate of 5 years.

Wojciech Wiewiórowski, a Polish national, has been the Assistant supervisor at the EDPS since 2014. Before that, he served as inspector general for the protection of personal data at the Polish data protection authority, a position which he had held since 2010.

Anna-Maja Henriksson, Minister of Justice from the Finland’s presidency of the Council said: “The protection of personal data and the right to privacy is a basic fundamental right guaranteed by EU law. I know that Mr Wiewiórowski and his staff will do their utmost to assist all Union institutions in realising these rights. Special activity concerning the emergence of new technologies is also needed.”

The European Data Protection Supervisor is the EU’s independent data protection authority. Its main missions are to ensure the protection of personal data when EU institutions process the personal information of individuals as well as to advise the institutions on all matters relating to the processing of such data. The EDPS also cooperates closely with national supervisory authorities and other supervisory bodies to improve consistency in protecting personal information.

The appointment was decided on common accord between the Council and the European Parliament.