The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union are in the final steps of their formal process to appoint the next European Data Protection Supervisor. Parliament's Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee will evaluate four candidates, including current EDPS Wojciech Wiewiórowski, during a 16 Jan. hearing
The hearings were previously delayed from November 2024 to allow candidates and representatives from EU member states additional time to prepare. Wiewiórowski's four-year EDPS term concluded 5 Dec. 2024, but he has remained in the post on an interim basis.
Parliament and the council, which will hold closed-door sessions with each candidate, will compare notes from their candidate interviews before coming to a decision. Joining Wiewiórowski in the running for EDPS are European Commission Head of International Data Flows and Protections Bruno Gencarelli, University of Bordeaux professor François Pellegrini and European Organization for Nuclear Research Chair Anna Pouliou.
The appointee will be charged with heading up the EU's independent data protection authority charged with oversight of EU institutions' data processing activities under Regulation (EU) 2018/1725.
The incumbent
Wiewiórowski is seeking reelection after being appointed EDPS in 2019. He previously served as assistant EDPS and inspector general of Poland's data protection authority, the Urząd Ochrony Danych Osobowych.
During his EDPS term, Wiewiórowski urged the EU for further restrictions to protect consumers' privacy from targeted advertising, sought more accountability around EU institutions data transfer safeguards, and explored the growing impacts of of artificial intelligence along with its interplay with data protection.
On 15 Jan., the EDPS issued a concept note outlining the need for "consistent, cooperative and coherent approach to enforcing EU laws regulating digital markets."
While introducing the the "Digital Clearinghouse 2.0," Wiewiórowski described how the AI Act, Digital Markets Act, Digital Services Act and other tools in the EU digital rulebook "promote a sustainable and rights-oriented digital economy." However, he indicated the proposed initiative offers "a forum for interested regulators to identify areas of cross-regulatory concern to facilitate coordination and to exchange knowledge, experiences and resources."
"Whilst the Digital Clearinghouse 2.0 would increase the chances of consistent application of EU laws in the digital sphere, it is important that the European Commission closely monitors the application of the different pieces of EU legislation in the digital economy," Wiewiórowski said. "This should inform the assessment of the interplay between the various legal frameworks and whether their governance structures should be clarified via legislative revisions."
Candidate perspectives
All EDPS candidates submitted written responses to initial questions from the Parliament that aimed to inform lawmakers prior to the 16 Jan. hearing.
In a second term, Wiewiórowski intends to continue to promote and regulate the rule of law and the EU's legal principles as the authority navigates regulating artificial intelligence technology. "This challenge is crucial at the eve of the agentic AI era where generative AI is in everyday use and with quantum computing on the horizon," he said.
Gencarelli described his work negotiating the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield as an experience that provides him the tools needed to lead the EDPS's office. He stressed the importance of the EDPS's independent decision-making obligations and its ability to remain collaborative with EU authorities' and external stakeholders.
To address data protection concerns, Pouliou said, as EDPS, she would aim to "increase efficiency andthe global standard for the respect of human life and dignity, the respect of the fundamental right to privacy."
Pouliou also emphasized the EDPS's responsibility to position itself as a global leader through a harmonized approach for EU institutions. If appointed, Pouliou said she hopes to "remain in regular dialogue with the EUI in a spirit of collaboration and mutuality where issues are discussed proactively, not after facts or errors, in order to safeguard the reputation of the Union."
Pelligrini previously served as vice president of France's DPA, the Commission nationale de l'informatique et des libertés. She indicated the EDPS's collaborative efforts could be crucial to the development of the European data protection model and "position EDPS as a reference player for the implementation of the European 'digital package.'"
Lexie White is a staff writer for the IAPP.
