On January 29th 2018, the Commission for personal data protection (CPDP) marks the European Data Protection Day – January 28th, for the 12th time in a row now, with series of public events.
The idea to celebrate the day is initiated by the Council of the European Union and was first honored in 2007. Presently, January 28th is recognized in plenty European countries, as well in worldwide scale.
On this day in 1981 the European countries, which share the fundamental principles of human rights as formulated by the Council of the European Union, are given the opportunity to participate in Convention 108 of the European Council for the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data.
The main goal of the celebration of the European Data Protection Day is to raise awareness and to encourage initiatives and good practices for the understanding of risk, rules, guarantees and rights related to the processing and protection of personal data.
On January 29th from 9:30hrs, in the building of the European Presidency in Sofia, in cooperation with Ms Maria Gabriel – the current European Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society, Ms Liliyana Pavlova – Ministry of the Bulgarian Presidency, and with the help of Ms Gergana Passy, the Commission for Personal Data Protection (CPDP) organizes a conference called "GDPR Sofia", at which the EU reform in the data protection sphere will be discussed, as well as the new legal framework, which establishes the General Data Protection Regulation. The one-day conference will mark the European Data Protection Day and will focus on the impact of the upcoming GDPR, aimed at policies, legislation and the business.
Mr Ventsislav Karadjov, in his quality as the Chairman of CPDP, will be the moderator in the high-level meeting on the topic „GDPR from a political and regulatory point of view”. Since the GDPR will come into force during the Bulgarian presidency of the European Union, it will create a platform for discussions in Sofia between European institutions, the regulators, business organizations and the public bodies, which will be affected by the Regulation.
From 10:30 till 12:00hrs, in the building of CPDP, an „Open day” will be held. Employees in the administration will welcome in their offices, everyone who wants to get to know the atmosphere of their work, to become informed and up-to date, as well as to share ideas and proposals.
From 10:00 till 12:00hrs, in the plenary room of CPDP, a Reception will be hosted for data controllers and citizens, in which experts from the Commission will welcome the visitors, listen to their issues and answer their questions.
From 15:00 hrs, on an altogether event of CPDP and its administration, the yearly prize for journalism will be awarded for the second time in a row, as announced on 28th of January 2016. The prize is given yearly to the journalist with the biggest contribution in the dissemination of the Commission’s activity and the rights to data protection and privacy of citizens. This year the prize (a diploma and a plaque of CPDP) will be given to Ms Gabriela Naplatanova – a reporter from the bTV News.
The European Data Protection Day coincides with the end of the report period of the Commission, which submits its Annual report to the National Assembly on January 31st, with all of its activity for the previous year.
In addition to the events dedicated to the European Data Protection Day, led by its conviction for constant civic engagement, the Commission is planning to organize an „Awareness Campaign” in four district towns – Plovdiv, Veliko Turnovo, Varna and Burgas. In the course of events, CPDP will introduce the main elements of the new legal framework and the necessary practical steps that need to be undertaken by data controllers.
During the whole day, at the ground floor and in the plenary hall of CPDP, informational and educational materials on the topic “Main elements in the application of the General Data Protection Regulation” will be handed. The same materials will also be available in an electronic form on the official website of CPDP.
The Commission for personal data protection invites everyone wishing to visit the Commission and to participate in its dialogue with the public!
