Article 29 Working Party
The Article 29 Working Party is the independent advisory body to the European Commission in matters of data protection.
The group was established by Article 29 of Directive 95/46/EC ( Data Protection Directive) of 24 October 1995. Their official name is group for the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data.
Tasks
The tasks of the Working Party are set 2002/58/EC ( Directive on privacy and electronic communications) in Article 30 of the European Data Protection Directive and Article 15 of the Directive. After that, the group has mainly advisory role. But it can also automatically deliver recommendations and opinions on all matters relating to the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data in the European Community. Standard of review are especially the two aforementioned privacy policy.
Since its inception, the group has ruled on various data protection topics, such as video surveillance, for e -government, unsolicited e -mail advertising, the use of biometric technology, to employee data protection, data transfer to third countries outside the EU and internet privacy.
The opinions of the group are not binding. The group had argued in 2003 objections to the proposed transfer of passenger data by air carriers to the United States authorities. Nevertheless, the Commission of the European Union in 2004 decided to conclude an Agreement for the transfer of such data to the Department of Homeland Security.
In 2005, the group expressed concerns about the lawfulness of the proposed directive on data retention. Despite this, the EU Parliament on 14 December 2005 approved the controversial policy.
Status and composition
The Article 29 Working Party is against the EU institutions and bodies independently. It shall take its decisions by majority vote.
The group consists of one representative of national data protection authorities, the European Data Protection Supervisor and one - not voting - Representatives of the European Commission. She meets usually five times a year for two days of meetings at its headquarters in Brussels.
Representatives of the data protection authorities of the Federal Republic of Germany is the current Federal Commissioner for Data Protection Andrea Voßhoff. Current Chairman of the Article 29 Working Party (2010 ) is Jacob Kohnstamm, head of the Dutch Data Protection Authority, Vice Chairman, Christopher Graham, the UK Information Commissioner (UK Information Commissioner ). The term of office of the Chairman and the Deputy shall be two years. A single re -elected.
The Working Group is supported by a Secretariat, which is hosted by the Directorate-General of Justice of the European Commission in Brussels. The Secretariat is in particular a central coordinating body.