Ombudsman and Data Protection Supervisor sign Memorandum of Understanding

EU Press release:

The European Ombudsman (EO), P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, and the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS), Peter Hustinx, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Brussels. The purpose of the agreement is to ensure the consistent treatment of complaints concerning data protection and to avoid unnecessary duplication. In pursuit of this goal, each of the signatory institutions undertakes:

• to inform complainants about the other institution when this could be relevant to them and to facilitate the transfer of complaints;
• to inform the other institution about complaints relevant to it;
• not to reopen a complaint that has already been brought forward, unless significant new evidence is submitted;
• to adopt a consistent approach to legal and administrative aspects of data protection, thereby promoting the rights and interests of citizens and complainants.

Full text of the memorandum