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Europe Data Protection Digest | Notes from the IAPP Europe Managing Director, September 12, 2014 Related reading: EU parliamentary elections: The process and potential digital policy impacts

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Two important announcements made this week will define the immediate future of European data protection. First and foremost, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker announced the composition of the new commission on Wednesday; the commissioners-designate will hold hearings in the European Parliament, which will vote on their appointment in the autumn. The new Commission will formally take charge on 1 November.

The changes that carachterise the Juncker Commission are a reflection of the way Europe has changed in the past few years. Unsurprisingly, privacy and digital matters now have unprecedented visibility and play a key role in the new commission. Former Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans will be the commission’s first vice president and the “right-hand of the president.” Timmermans’ portfolio includes “ensuring that every commission proposal or initiative complies with the Charter of Fundamental Rights.”

The commission will also have five vice presidents. The vice presidents, the first vice president and the high representative will each lead a project team. “In the new commission, there are no first- or second-class commissioners,” said Juncker. “There are team leaders and team players. They will work together in a spirit of collegiality and mutual dependence. I want to overcome silo-mentalities and introduce a new collaborative way of working in areas where Europe can really make a difference."

One of the vice presidents, former Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, will be responsible for the Single Digital Market and will steer and coordinate the project team responsible for a Connected Digital Market, which encompasses several commissioners, including the newly created commissioner for digital economy and society, German Günther Oettinger, currently commissioner for energy.

As for the second important announcement, Helen Dixon, registrar of companies since 2009, was appointed as Irish data protection commissioner, taking over from Billy Hawkes.

It looks like we have an exciting rest of the year ahead: same script, different cast?

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