Article 29 Data Protection Working Party
The Article 29 Working Party (Art. 29 WP) is made up of a representative from the data protection authority of each EU Member State, the European Data Protection Supervisor and the European Commission. The composition and purpose of Art. 29 WP was set out in Article 29 of the Data Protection Directive, and it was launched in 1996.
Its main missions are:
- Give expert advices to the States regarding data protection
- Promote the same application of the Data Protection Directive in all EU state members, as well as Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland
- Give to the Commission an opinion on community laws (first pillar) affecting the right to protection of personal data
- To make recommendations to the public on matters relating to the protection of persons with regard to the processing of personal data and privacy in the European Community[1]
The Working Party elects its chairman and two vice-chairmen. The chairman's and vice-chairmen's term of office is two years. Their term of office is renewable only once.[2] The Working Party's secretariat is provided by the European Commission.
The European Commission provides the secretariat of the Working Party, and hosts a website where adopted documents and other relevant information, such as on standard contractual clauses, can be found.[3]
