General information

At the end of 2001 the Inspector General for Personal Data Protection initiated international co-operation between Central and Eastern Europe personal data protection authorities. During the meeting organised on 17 December 2001 by the Inspector General for Personal Data Protection representatives of the respective personal data protection authorities from Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia, Poland and Slovakia declared the will of co-operation and mutual help in the scope necessary to ensure proper personal data protection in their countries. At present, apart from the countries listed above and excluding Estonia (which resigned from membership in 2014) also Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Romania, Slovenia, Albania, Moldova, Serbia, Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Georgia, Kosovo and Armenia co-operate within the framework of this forum. 

Meetings of Central and Eastern Europe personal data protection authorities, aimed at supporting EU candidate countries and new EU Member States, exchanging information and experience, raising awareness of personal data protection, as well as, what is most important, further harmonization of the national provisions with the UE law, have taken the form of regular conferences organised in particular countries, and of current cooperation – dependent upon actual needs. Furthermore, in order to facilitate the co-operation, the Inspector General for Personal Data Protection has established a special website (www.ceecprivacy.org) which makes a source of information on personal data protection in every country of the group and allows for a quick exchange of information between personal data protection commissioners, including making up joint solutions of problems arising in this field.