Members Europe

Europe

Azərbaycan Respublikasının İnsan Hüquqları üzrə Müvəkkili (Ombudsman)

Azerbaijan

Azərbaycan Respublikasının İnsan Hüquqları üzrə Müvəkkili (Ombudsman)

Azerbaijan

Head of authority: M Ms Sabina Aliyeva

Territory: Azerbaijan
Continent: Europe
Scope: National
Competence: Ombudsman
Year established: 2002
Number of staff: 110

In 1996-2000 she studied in the Law faculty of Baku State University and graduated from this university with distinction. In 2000-2002 she continued her education at the master’s degree in the specialty of State Law in the Law faculty of Baku State University and graduated from the university with distinction. In 2009-2012 she received additional higher education in the specialty of International relations in the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. In 2016 she received the PhD in Law by defending the thesis on the specialty of “International Law; Human Rights”. Since 2000 Sabina Aliyeva has worked in the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Azerbaijan in different positions, since 2015 she has been the Deputy Head of the Office of the Constitutional Court. On November 29, 2019, Sabina Aliyeva was elected as the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan by the Milli Mejlis (Parliament) among three candidates presented to this position by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Relevant Laws

Law 897
Law 1407
Law 11142

Activities:

Activity Report EN (PDF)
Activity Report NATIVE (PDF)

Contact details:

Address: Uzeyir Hajibeyli Street 80, Government House, Gate II, AZ 1000, Baku, Azerbaijan
Website: ombudsman.az

Phone:(+99412) 498 23 65; (+99412) 493 74 22
Email:ombudsman@ombudsman.az, apparat@ombudsman.az

Komisioneri për të Drejtën e Informimit dhe Mbrojtjen e të Dhënave Personale

Albania

Komisioneri për të Drejtën e Informimit dhe Mbrojtjen e të Dhënave Personale

Albania

Head of authority: Besnik Dervishi

Territory: Albania
Continent: Europe
Scope: National
Competence: Privacy / Data Protection and ATI/RTI
Year established: 2008
Number of staff: 60

Mr. Besnik Dervishi graduated from the Faculty of Law at the University of Tirana in 1986. Throughout his professional career, he has served in the justice system and in the state administration as a civil servant, Secretary General at ministry level, Regional Governor, Deputy Minister, Minister, and Member of Parliament. Since 2014, he has been appointed by the Albanian Parliament as the Information and Data Protection Commissioner. In 2021, Commissioner Dervishi was elected as a member of the ICIC Executive Committee and currently serves as the Interim Chair of the Executive Committee of the International Conference of Information Commissioners (ICIC). Furthermore, from 2018 to 2022, he served as a member of the Executive Committee of the Global Privacy Assembly (GPA). He is recognized for his contribution to the reform of national legislation on the right to information and the right to personal data protection, including efforts to align it with the regulatory framework of the European Union, the conventions of the Council of Europe, and other international acts. Mr. Dervishi is also engaged in teaching at the higher education level and at the School of Magistrates.

Relevant Laws

Law No. 119/2014 "On the Right to Information"
Law No. 124/2024 “On Personal Data Protection”

Activities

Annual Reports (in Albanian)
Annual Reports (in English)

Contact details

Address: "Abdi Toptani" Str. no. 5, Tirana, Albania
Website: www.idp.al

Phone:+35542237200
Email:info@idp.al

Commissie voor de toegang tot en het hergebruik van bestuursdocumenten

Belgium

Commissie voor de toegang tot en het hergebruik van bestuursdocumenten

Belgium

Head of authority:Prof. dr. Kaat Leus Is Member of the Council of State and professor at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)

Territory: Belgium
Continent: Europe
Scope: Federal
Competence: ATI/RTI only
Year established: 1994
Number of staff: 1

Relevant Laws

Law of 14 April 1994 concerning the access to administrative documents
Law of 14 April 1994 concerning the access to administrative documents

Activities

Commissie voor de toegang tot en het hergebruik van bestuursdocumenten
Commission d’accès aux et de réutilisation des documents administratif

Contact details:

Address: Koloniënstraat 11, 1000 Brussels
Website: http://www.bestuursdocumenten.be/ www.documentsadministratifs.be

Phone:+32025182072
Email:ctb-cada@rrn.fgov.be

Povjerenik za informiranje

Croatia

Povjerenik za informiranje

Croatia

Head of authority: Zoran Piculjan

Ph.D. graduated from the Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb, where he received his doctorate. He held a number of positions in public administration and diplomacy, and participated in preparation of the Law on General Administrative Procedure, the Law on the Prevention of Conflicts of Interest, the Law on the Ombudsman, the Law on Access to Information and a number of regulations in related fields. He published four books in the field of law, over thirty scientific and professional papers related to administrative law and administration, civil service and diplomatic.

Territory: Republic of Croatia
Continent: Europe
Scope: Federal
Competence: ATI/RTI only
Year established: 2013
Number of staff: 18

Relevant Laws

The Law on the Right to Access to Information

Activities:

Annual Reports on Implementation of the Law on the Right to Access to Information, from 2014-2021
(Annual Reports in native languaje)

Contact details:

Address: Trg zrtava fasizma 3, 10000 Zagreb. Croatia, Europe
Website: pristupinfo.hr

Phone:+38512099100, +38512099102
Email:ppi@pristupinfo.hr

European Ombudsman

European Ombudsman

Head of authority: Teresa Anjinho

Ms Anjinho is a lawyer, an independent human rights expert, and an academic specialising in public international law, gender, and equality. She has lectured at the NOVA School of Law and at the Ius Gentium Conimbrigae Institute of the University of Coimbra. She has also published several scientific papers. From 2022 to 2025, Ms Anjinho served as a Member of the Supervisory Committee of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF). She previously held the positions of Deputy Ombudsperson of Portugal (2017-2022), Secretary of State for Justice in the Portuguese Government (2015), and Member of Parliament in Portugal (2011-2015).

Territory: Europe Union
Continent: Europe
Scope: EU institutions, bodies and agencies
Competence: Ombudsman role
Year established: 1992
Number of staff: 75

Relevant Laws

Article 228 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU
Statute of the European Ombudsman: Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2021/1163 of the European Parliament of 24 June 2021 laying down the regulations and general conditions governing the performance of the Ombudsman’s duties and repealing Decision 94/262/ECSC, EC, Euratom
For ATI/RTI: Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2001 regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents

Activities:

2024 annual report

Contact details:

Address: Bâtiment Václav Havel (HAV), Allée Spach, F-67000 Strasbourg Bâtiment Froissart (FRS), 87 rue Froissart, B-1000 Bruxelles
Website: www.ombudsman.europa.eu

Phone:+33388172313
Email:EO@Ombudsman.europa.eu

Der Bundesbeauftragte für den Datenschutz und die Informationsfreiheit

Germany

Der Bundesbeauftragte für den Datenschutz und die Informationsfreiheit

Germany

Chair: Prof. Dr. Specht-Riemenschneider

Chairperson name Prof. Dr. Specht-Riemenschneider Prof. Dr. Louisa Specht-Riemenschneider has been Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information since September 2024. She previously held the chair for Civil Law, Data Economy Law, Data Protection, Digitization and Artificial Intelligence at the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn. She studied law in Bremen, completed her doctorate and habilitation in Freiburg and subsequently held professorships in Cologne and Passau. As director, she headed both the Institute for Commercial and Business Law of the Faculty of Law and Political Science and the Center for Medical Data Usability and Translation (ZMDT). She also oversaw the establishment of the Data Institute under the leadership of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK) and the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Home Affairs (BMI).

Continent: Europe
Scope: Federal
Competence: Privacy/Data Protection and ATI/RTI
Year established: 1978
Number of staff: 375

Relevant Laws: German Federal Freedom of Information Act

Federal Act Governing Access to Information held by the Federal Government (Freedom of Information Act) – complete English translation
Environmental Information Act – complete English translation

Annual Reports: German Federal Freedom of Information Act

32nd Annual Activity Report (2023) – English version
33. Tätigkeitsbericht (2024) – German version

Contact details:

Address: Der Bundesbeauftragte für den Datenschutz und die Informationsfreiheit Graurheindorfer Straße 153, 53117 Bonn
Website: www.bfdi.bund.de

Phone:+4902289977990
Email:poststelle@bfdi.bund.de

Berliner Beauftragte für Datenschutz und Informationsfreiheit

State of Berlin (Germany)

Berliner Beauftragte für Datenschutz und Informationsfreiheit

State of Berlin (Germany)

Head of authority: Meike Kamp

Meike Kamp was elected Berlin’s Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information on 6th October 2022. She is a legal expert specialising in data protection and freedom of the media and information.

She already worked at the Berlin DPA from 2010 to 2019, most recently as Head of Unit. Prior to that, Kamp was Head of the Data Protection in the Non-Public Sector, including Telemedia and Telecommunications Unit, at the Independent Centre for Data Protection in Schleswig-Holstein. Until she took office as Berlin DPA, Meike Kamp worked for the State of Bremen in the Legal and Internal Affairs Committee of the Bundesrat.

In English: Berlin Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information
Continent: Europe
Scope: Provincial, Municipal, National Security
Competence: Privacy/Data Protection and ATI/RTI
Year established: 1979, as for FOI: 1999
Number of staff: 83

Relevant Laws

Berlin FOI Act

Activities:

General tasks
Annual Reports

Contact details:

Address: Alt-Moabit 59-61, 10555 Berlin (visitors’ entrance: Alt-Moabit 60)
Website: https://www.datenschutz-berlin.de/

Phone:+4930138890
Email: mailbox@datenschutz-berlin.de

Brandenburg Commissioner for Data Protection and Access to Information

State of Brandenburg (Germany)

Brandenburg Commissioner for Data Protection and Access to Information

State of Brandenburg (Germany)

Head of authority: Dagmar Hartge

Born 28 December 1962, married, two children.

Brandenburg State Commissioner for Data Protection and Access to Information since 2005.

2005: Head of legal department and und appointment as deputy Berlin Data Protection Commissioner.

2004: Temporary head of legal department.

1994 ‐ 2004: Legal advisor to the Berlin Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information.

1992 – 1994: Senate Department of the Interior Berlin. Studied law and economics at the Georg‐August‐University in Göttingen, first state law examination in 1988, second state law examination in 1992.

On June 7th, 2012, she was appointed vice-president of the Commission d’accès à l’information by the National Assembly of Québec. She was appointed president of the Commission on December 5th, 2019, after acting as interim president for almost a year.

Territory: Brandenburg (Federal State)
Continent: Europe
Scope: Provincial
Competence: Privacy/Data Protection and ATI/RTI
Year established: 1992 (Access to information 1998)
Number of staff: 40 FTE (Access to information 1,5)

Relevant Laws

Akteneinsichts‐ und Informationszugangsgesetz (German ‐ Act on the Inspection of Files and Access to Information)
Akteneinsichts‐ und Informationszugangsgebührenordnung (German ‐ Scale of Administrative Fees)
Act on the Inspection of Files and Access to Information including Scale of Administrative Fees (complete English translation)

Activities:

Tätigkeitsbericht Akteneinsicht 2018/2019 (biennial activity report, next one in May 2022)

Contact details:

Address: Stahnsdorfer Damm 77, Haus 2, 14532 Kleinmachnow, Germany
Website: http://www.lda.brandenburg.de/

Phone:+49332033560
Email:poststelle@LDA.Brandenburg.de

Der Landesbeauftragte für den Datenschutz und die Informationsfreiheit Rheinland-Pfalz

State of Rhineland-Palatinate (Germany)

Der Landesbeauftragte für den Datenschutz und die Informationsfreiheit Rheinland-Pfalz

State of Rhineland-Palatinate (Germany)

Head of authority: Prof. Dr. Dieter Kugelmann

Prof. Dr. Dieter Kugelmann studied at the universities of Mainz and Dijon. After his Pd.D. in European media law he qualified at the university of Mainz with a study on the law of freedom of information. He is author of numerous publications especially on European fundamental rights, European law, media law, security law and data protection law. In 2008 he became a fully tenured professor at the German Police University in Muenster with a specialization for public law with a focus on police law including international and European Law. In 2015 he was elected for State Commissioner and President of the Authority for the protection of data and the freedom of information of Rhineland-Palatinate and in 2023 he was re-elected for a second term. He is the editor of a commentary on the data protection law of Rhineland-Palatinate and co-editor of a commentary on the GDPR.

Territory: Rhineland-Palatinate, Federation
Continent: Europe
Competence: Privacy/Data Protection and ATI/RTI
Year established: Rhineland-Palatinate Commissioner for Data Protection established in 1991
Rhineland-Palatinate Commissioner for Freedom of Information established in 2011
Number of staff: 26

Relevant Laws

Rhineland-Palatinate State Transparency Act

Activities:

Tätigkeitsbericht zur Informationsfreiheit 2022/2023

Contact details: Hintere Bleiche 34 55116 Mainz

Website: https://www.datenschutz.rlp.de/

Phone:+49 (0) 6131 8920-0
Email:poststelle@datenschutz.rlp.de

Gibraltar Regulatory Authority

Gibraltar

Gibraltar Regulatory Authority

Gibraltar

Head of authority: John Paul Rodriguez

John Paul Rodriguez was appointed Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority (the “GRA”) in October 2021. Mr Rodriguez is also the Information Commissioner under the provisions of Gibraltar’s Data Protection and Freedom of Information Acts. Before being appointed CEO, Mr Rodriguez held the post of Deputy CEO from March 2013 to October 2021, providing direct support to the then GRA’s CEO, and was the GRA’s Head of Regulation from 2006 to March 2013, overseeing the different regulatory remits of the GRA. The GRA is also responsible for regulating the electronic communications, broadcasting, competition, postal, higher education and cyber security sectors in Gibraltar.

Territory: Gibraltar
Continent: Europe
Scope: Federal
Competence: Privacy/Data Protection & ATI-RTI
Year established: 2000
Number of staff: 20

Relevant Laws

Data Protection Act 2004
Freedom of Information Act 2018

Activities:

Annual report 2020/2021

Contact details:

Address: 2nd Floor, Eurotowers 4, 1 Europort Road, Gibraltar, GX11 1AA
Website: https://www.gra.gi/

Phone:+35020074636
Email:foi@gra.gi

Nemzeti Adatvédelmi és Információszabadság Hatóság (NAIH)

Hungary

Nemzeti Adatvédelmi és Információszabadság Hatóság (NAIH)

Hungary

Head of authority: Dr. Attila Péterfalvi

He graduated at Eötvös Loránd University Faculty of Political Sicence and Law in 1981. He has been active in the field of data protection from 1996. Between 2001-2007 he was the Parliamentary Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information in Hungary.

Honorary Professor at Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church and also at Pázmány Péter Catholic University in Hungary. Got his PhD in 2014 at Zrínyi Miklós National Defence University.

Author of more than 50 publications (data protection and freedom of information) in Hungarian and English language.

Territory: Hungary
Continent: Europe
Scope: National
Competence: Privacy/Data Protection & ATI-RTI
Year established: 2012 (former predecessor institution: Parliamentary Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information, established in 1995)
Number of staff: 108

Relevant Laws

Right of Informational Self-Determination and on Freedom of Information

Activities:

FOI activities
Comprehensive FOI research project
Annual reports
Annual report in English
Annual report in native language

Contact details:

Address: H-1055 Budapest, Falk Miksa u. 9-11. Hungary.
Website: www.naih.hu

Phone:+3613911400
Email:ugyfelszolgalat@naih.hu

Oifig an Choimisinéara Faisnéise

Ireland

Oifig an Choimisinéara Faisnéise

Ireland

Head of authority: Peter Tyndall

Peter has been Ombudsman and Information Commissioner for Ireland since December 2013. He is also the Commissioner for Environmental Information. Peter, who is from Dublin, served as Public Services Ombudsman for Wales. He was Chief Executive of the Arts Council of Wales and Head of Education and Culture for the Welsh Local Government Association. Peter worked in a variety of senior positions in housing and social care. In particular, he developed housing and support services for people with intellectual disabilities. Peter is currently President of the International Ombudsman Institute.

In English: Office of the Information Commissioner
In native language: Oifig an Choimisinéara Faisnéise
Competence: ATI/RTI only
Number of staff: 24
Jurisdiction: Ireland
Jurisdiction: Ireland
Continent: Europe
Jurisdiction: Federal

Relevant Laws

Freedom of Information Act 2014
European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations 2007 to 2018

Activities:

Annual report 2019
Tuarascáil Bhliantúil 2019

Contact details:

Address: Office of the Information Commissioner, 6 Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2, D02 W773.
Website: www.naih.hu

Phone:0035316395689
Email:info@oic.ie

Barrantagh Fysseree

Isle of Man

Barrantagh Fysseree

Isle of Man

Head of authority: Alexandra Delaney-Bhattacharya

The Isle of Man Information Commissioner is Alexandra Delaney-Bhattacharya, who took up post in September 2024, bringing strong experience in regulatory engagement, outreach, and collaboration. With six and a half years working in the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), Alex held progressively senior roles and most recently headed up the delivery function in the Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum (DRCF). Prior to entering the regulatory world, Alex spent four years in management consultancy supporting clients in the UK and Switzerland. Alex holds a PhD in Media and Cultural Studies, an MSc in Poverty and Development, a PGCert in Research Methods, a BA (Hons) in Religions and Theology (South Asian Studies), as well as several professional qualifications in project and programme management.

Territory: Isle of Man
Continent: Europe
Scope: Federal
Competence: Privacy/Data Protection & ATI-RTI
Year established: 1986
Number of staff: 10

Relevant Laws

Data Protection Act 2018 – Isle of Man
Freedom of Information Act 2015

Activities:

Annual report 2024/2025

Contact details:

Address: IPO Box 69, Douglas, Isle of Man IM99 1EQ.
Website: https://www.inforights.im/

Phone:+441624693260
Email:ask@inforights.im

Jersey Office of the Information Commissioner

Jersey

Jersey Office of the Information Commissioner

Jersey

Head of authority: Information Commissioner – Paul Vane Paul was appointed as Information Commissioner in july of 2021.

Paul has extensive experience in the regulatory and law enforcement environment and held the position of Deputy Commissioner between 2004 – 2021. Between January and August 2018 Paul was Acting Information Commissioner, during which time the GDPR came into effect. Paul led the organisation through this landmark transition.

Previously, Paul worked at the Jersey Financial Services Commission as a Compliance Manager and Policy and Legal Manager. This gave him experience in a similar regulatory environment where, among other things, he was responsible for ensuring that financial services businesses were compliant with Jersey’s financial services law.

In English: Jersey Office of the Information Commissioner
Continent: Europe
Competence: Privacy/Data Protection and ATI/RTI
Jurisdiction: Jersey, Channel Islands
Year established: 2018 (as Jersey OIC), previously Data Protection Commissioner and Data Protection Registrar
Number of staff: 14

Relevant Laws

The Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2018

The Data Protection Authority (Jersey) Law 2018

Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011

https://www.jerseyoic.org/dp-foi-laws/

Activities:

Annual report 2018

Contact details:

Address: Jersey Office of the Information Commissioner, 2nd Floor, 5 Castle Street, St Helier, Jersey, JE2 3BT.
Website: www.jerseyoic.org

Phone:+4401534716530
Email:enquiries@jerseyoic.org

Agjencia për Informim dhe Privatësi

Kosovo

Agjencia për Informim dhe Privatësi

Kosovo

Head of authority: Ms. Krenare Sogojeva Dermaku

For more than a decade she has led the Legal Department in the Ministry of Defence, while in the Office of the Prime Minister she has been legislative coordinator at the Coordinating Secretariat of the Government and Senior Legal Official in the Legal Office.

As a graduate lawyer from the University of Pristina, with postgraduate studies in European Law at the European College of Parma in Italy, she has extensive experience in drafting laws, providing legal interpretations and advice, and possesses knowledge in the fields of human rights, defence, and security.

Territory: Kosovo
Continent: Europe
Scope: National Security
Competence: Privacy/Data Protection and ATI/RTI
Year established: June 2011
Number of staff: 23

Relevant Laws

Law No. 06/L-082 on Personal Data Protection
Law No. 06/L-081 on Access to Public Documents
Regulation No. 02/2022 on Internal Procedure for Reviewing Appeals on Access to Public Documents

Activities

Plans and Reports – Agjencia për Informim dhe Privatësi

Contact details

Address: Str. “Zenel Salihu” No. 22, Prishtinë 10000, Kosovo
Website: Agjencia për Informim dhe Privatësi – AIP

Phone:+38320062954
Email:Info.aip@rks-gov.net

Uffiċċju tal-Kummissarju għall-Informazzjoni u l-Protezzjoni tad-Data

Malta

Uffiċċju tal-Kummissarju għall-Informazzjoni u l-Protezzjoni tad-Data

Malta

Head of authority: Mr Ian Deguara, Commissioner of the Information and Data Protection Commissioner

Mr. Ian Deguara has been appointed as Information and Data Protection Commissioner for a period of five (5) years with effect from 21st December 2020. Mr. Deguara was one of the first employees to join the Office of the Information and Data Protection Commissioner in December 2002 after successfully completing his studies at the University of Malta, where he obtained a degree in computing and also in management.

Territory: Malta
Continent: Europe
Competence: Privacy/Data Protection and ATI/RTI
Year established: 2002
Number of staff: 15

Relevant Laws

Data Protection Act (Cap. 586 of the Laws of Malta) and the legislation issued thereunder.

Freedom of Information Act (Cap. 496 of the Laws of Malta)

Activities:

Annual report 2018

Contact details:Office of the Information and Data Protection Commissioner, Airways House, Second Floor, High Street, Sliema, Malta

Website: https://idpc.org.mt/

Phone:+35623287100
Email:idpc.info@idpc.org.mt

Agency for Protection of the Right to Free Access to Public Information

North Macedonia

Agency for Protection of the Right to Free Access to Public Information

North Macedonia

Head of authority: Plamenka Bojcheva

Born: 21.10. 1969 in Skopje Education: Faculty of Law – Judicial Faculty 1991/1992 Title: Bachelor of Law, passed the bar exam in 201115.03.1993 – 15.03.1995 District Commercial Court, Skopje (volunteer practice) 01.04.1998 – 28.12.2014 PE “Macedonian Post” Skopje, Advocacy and Agreement Officer and Head of Human Resources and Education Service 29.12.2014 – 18.07.2015 State Video Lottery of the Republic of Macedonia – Kasinos Austria DOO Skopje, Administrative Assistant 01.03. 2016 – 19.02. 2018 State Election Commission – Skopje, Head of the Voters’ List Department 20.02.2018 – 31.01.2019 Municipality Aerodrom-Skopje, Head of the Sector for Affairs of the Mayor and Secretary of the Municipality From 25.12.2019 until the present Director of the Agency for Protection of the Right to Free Access to Public Information

Territory: Republic of North Macedonia
Continent: Europe
Scope: National Security
Competence: ATI/RTI only
Year established: 2020
Number of staff: 16

Relevant Laws

Law on free Access to Public Information.

Law on the General Administrative Procedure

Activities:

Annual Report 2024 in English

Annual Report 2024 in Native Language

Contact details:

Address: Goce Delchev Blvd. 18, Skopje (The building of MRTV – 14th floor)
Website: https://aspi.mk/

Phone:+389 2 3118 038; +389 2 3114 695
Email:aspi@aspi.mk

Уповноважений Верховної Ради України з прав людини

Ukraine

Уповноважений Верховної Ради України з прав людини

Ukraine

Head of authority: Dmytro LUBINETS

Dmytro LUBINETS Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Lawyer, Doctor of Philosophy Date and place of birth: July 4, 1981, Volnovakha, Donetsk region, Ukraine Family status: Married since 2004 with son (18 y.o.) and daughter (14 y.o.) Education: 2021 - 2022 – studied at the Mariupol State University, majoring in Public Management and Administration. 2016 - 2021 – studied at the Mariupol State University, graduated from postgraduate studies of the Department of Political Science, and obtained the qualification "Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science". 2008 – 2012 – studied at the Faculty of Law of the Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University in Kharkiv, with judicial and prosecutorial specialization. Obtained the qualification of a specialist in law. 1998 – 2003 – studied at the Department of International Relations and Foreign Policy of Faculty of History of Donetsk National University. Obtained the qualification of a specialist in international relations. Professional experience: On July 1, 2022, by Resolution No. 2353-IX of the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) of Ukraine, he was appointed the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman). In 2019, he was elected to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the IX convocation as a non-party MP for the 60th district (Donetsk region). Dmytro Lubinets was elected Chairman of the Committee on Human Rights, Deoccupation and Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories in Donetsk, Luhansk regions and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the City of Sevastopol, National Minorities and Interethnic Relations. In 2014, he was elected the Member of Ukrainian Parliament for the 60th district. He took the position of Secretary of the Committee on Regulation and Organization of Work of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Member of the Permanent Delegation of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to the Parliamentary Assembly of the EU — Eastern Neighbors (PA EURONEST). In 2010, he was elected member of the Volnovakha City Council of the 6th convocation for the 9th majority district, held the position of the secretary of the Land Commission. From 2005 to 2014, he was a private entrepreneur.

Continent: Europe
Competence: ATI/RTI, Ombudsman role
Jurisdiction: Federal
Year established: 1997
Number of staff: 400

Relevant Laws

Law of Ukraine «On the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights» (UA)
The Constitution of Ukraine (ENG | UA)
Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses (UA)
Law of Ukraine «On Access to Public Information» (ENG | UA)
Law of Ukraine «On Personal Data Protection» (ENG | UA)
Law of Ukraine «On Citizens' Appeals» (ENG | UA)

Activities:

Latest annual reports

Contact details:

Address: 21/8 Instytutska str. 01008 Kyiv, Ukraine
Website: https://www.ombudsman.gov.ua/

Phone:0800501720
Email:hotline@ombudsman.gov.ua

Comissão de Acesso aos Documentos

Portugal

Comissão de Acesso aos Documentos

Portugal

Head of authority: Alberto Oliveira President of CADA since March 2017

Judge (Justice) of the Supreme Administrative Court;

Vice-president of the Supreme Administrative Court;

Judge (Justice) of the Supreme Court of Justice;

Member of the Consultative Council of the Prosecutor General’s Office;

Deputy Prosecutor General

Territory: Portugal
Continent: Europe
Competence: ATI/RTI only
Year established: 1993
Number of staff: 11

Relevant Laws

Law n.º 26/2016 of 22 August 2016

Activities:

Annual report 2020.
Activities Plan for the year 2022.

Contact details:

Address: Av. Dom Carlos I, 134 – 3.º, 1200-651 Lisboa
Website: www.cada.pt

Phone:+351213913570
Email:geral@cada.pt

Poverenik za informacije od javnog značaja i zaštitu podataka o ličnosti

Serbia

Poverenik za informacije od javnog značaja i zaštitu podataka o ličnosti

Serbia

Head of authority: Milan Marinović

He graduated from the Faculty of Law in Belgrade, where he also passed the Judicial State Examination.

14 August 1998 – Misdemeanour City Court judge in Belgrade

24 August 2006 – he was reappointed to the position.

29 December 2009 – a judge of the Misdemeanour Court in Belgrade (later – permanent judge).

30 December 2009 – he was appointed acting President of the Misdemeanour Court in Belgrade.

23 May 2019 – National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia elected him President of the Court.

26 July 2019 – the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia elected Milan Marinović Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection.

Territory: Portugal
Continent: Europe
Competence: ATI/RTI only
Year established: 1993
Number of staff: 11

Relevant Laws

Law on Free Access to Information of Public Importance (“Official Gazette of RS” No. 120/04, 54/07, 104/09 i 36/10) – Unofficially consolidated text and translation into English
Law on personal data protection (“Official Gazette of RS” No. 87/2018)(version in Serbian only)

Activities:

Report on the Implementationof the Law on Free Access to Information of Public Importance and the Law on Personal Data Protection for 2018

https://www.poverenik.rs/images/stories/dokumentacija-nova/izvestajiPoverenika/2018/Report2018.pdf(English)
https://www.poverenik.rs/images/stories/dokumentacija-nova/izvestajiPoverenika/2018/latGI2018.docx(Serbian)

Contact details:

Address: 15 Bulevar kralja Aleksandra str, Belgrade 11120
Website: https://www.poverenik.rs/en/

Phone: +381113408900
Email:office@poverenik.rs

Informacijski Pooblaščenec

Slovenia

Informacijski Pooblaščenec

Slovenia

Head of authority: Jelena Virant Burnik, 1968, Bachelor of Laws with State Bar Exam

dr. Jelena Virant Burnik joined the Information Commissioner in 2008. She performed the duties of the national data protection supervisor until 2018, when she became Head of international cooperation and supervision, overseeing the field of cross-border data processing and coordinating the Information Commissioner's activities in the European Data Protection Board (EDPB). She graduated in 2007 from the Faculty of Social Sciences in Ljubljana and in 2008 she completed her master’s degree in communications regulation at the London School of Economics and Political Science in the United Kingdom. She was awarded a PhD in 2019 at the Faculty of Social Sciences in Ljubljana with a dissertation on the regulation of behavioural advertising from the perspective of the right to privacy and personal data protection. On the proposal of the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Ms Nataša Pirc Musar, the National Assembly elected her as the new Information Commissioner on 10 July 2024. She assumed her five-year term on 18 July 2024

Territory: Republic of Slovenia
Continent: Europe
Scope: Federal
Competence: Privacy / Data Protection and ATI/RTI
Year established: 2005
Number of staff: 49

Relevant Laws

Public Information Access Act

EN
SL

Activities:

2023 annual report

Activities:

2024 annual report

Contact details:

Address: Dunajska 22, 1000 Ljubljana
Website: www.ip-rs.si / www.upravljavec.si / www.tiodlocas.si

Phone:+38612309730
Email:gp.ip@ip-rs.si

Consejo de Transparencia y Buen Gobierno

Spain

Consejo de Transparencia y Buen Gobierno

Spain

Head of authority: José Luis Rodríguez Álvarez

With a long-standing career as a researcher, university professor, and public official, he has held several key positions in the Spanish public administration and academia. After earning his Law degree from the Complutense University of Madrid, he obtained a Diploma in Constitutional Law and Political Science from the Center for Constitutional Studies and pursued postgraduate studies at the University of Heidelberg (Germany). He was also a Visiting Researcher for three years at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law. He was Director of the Cabinet of the Secretary of State for Relations with the Courts (2004-2008) and Director-General for Legal Coordination (2008-2009) in the Ministry of the Presidency. From 2009 to 2011, he was Chief of Staff to the Minister’s Office in the Ministry of Justice. From June 2011 to July 2015, he served as Director of the Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD). During his tenure, he was actively involved in various stages of the drafting process of the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR) and led the legal team representing Spain before the Court of Justice of the European Union in the landmark case Google v. AEPD (commonly known as the "right to be forgotten" case). He also served as Director of a Master’s Program in Law and New Technologies and held the position of Data Protection Officer at the Universidad Complutense. He is currently Chairman of the Council for Transparency and Good Governance.

Territory: Spain
Continent: Europe
Scope: Federal
Competence: ATI/RTI only
Year established: 2015
Number of staff: 30

Relevant Laws

Ley 19/2013, de 9 de diciembre, de Transparencia, Acceso a la Información Pública y Buen Gobierno.
EN:Act 19/2013, of 9 December, on Transparency, Access to Public Information, and Good Governance

Activities:

Annual Report 2024

Contact details:

Address: 1C/José Abascal nº 2 5ª planta. 28003 Madrid
Website: www.consejodetransparencia.es

Phone:+34912733300
Email:secretaria.consejo@consejodetransparencia.es

Síndic de Greuges de Catalunya

Catalonia (Spain)

Síndic de Greuges de Catalunya

Catalonia (Spain)

Head of authority: Esther Giménez-Salinas i Colomer

Territory: Regional Jurisdiction (Federal)
Continent: Europe
Scope: Federal
Competence: Privacy/Data Protection and ATI/RTI, Ombudsman role
Year established: 1984
Number of staff: 79

Ms. Esther Giménez-Salinas i Colomer is a Doctor of Law and psychologist from the University of Barcelona. She has held key roles in justice and academia, including leading the Legal Defence Service for Minors at the Department of Justice (1981–1983) and directing the Centre for Legal Studies and Specialised Training (1983–1993). She later served as Deputy Director of the Institute of Criminology at the University of Barcelona and as a member of the Council of Europe’s Scientific Committee on Criminal Policy (1993–1997). She was also a member of Spain’s General Council of the Judiciary (1996–2001) and President of Ramon Llull University (2002–2012). She has held academic chairs in Restorative and Social Justice and served as an advisor to Banco Santander (2012–2020). In July 2022, she was appointed Catalan Ombudswoman (Síndica de Greuges).

Relevant Laws

Regulatory Law (complete translation)

Activities

Latest Annual Report (in English)
Latest Annual Report (in Catalan)

Contact details

Address: Passeig de Lluís Companys, 7, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
Email: sindic@sindic.cat
Telephone: 00 34 93 301 80 75
Website: www.sindic.cat
Instagram: @sindicdegreugescat
X: @sindicdegreuges
YouTube: @sindicdegreuges
LinkedIn: Síndic de Greuges de Catalunya

Eidgenössischer Datenschutz- und Öffentlichkeitsbeauftragter (EDÖB)

Switzerland

Eidgenössischer Datenschutz- und Öffentlichkeitsbeauftragter (EDÖB)

Switzerland

Head of authority: Dr. iur., LL.M., Lawyer Adrian Lobsiger.

After his studies in Bern and Basel, Adrian Lobsiger obtained a master’s degree in European law from the University of Exeter (GB)

Adrian Lobsiger was elected by the Federal Council in November 2015 and confirmed by Parliament in March 2016. He has been in office since June 2016. At its meeting on 10 April 2019, the Federal Council confirmed the re-election of Adrian Lobsiger as Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC) for a second term of office until the end of 2023.

Continent: Europe
Competence: Privacy/Data Protection and ATI/RTI
Jurisdiction: Federal
Year established: 1993
Number of staff: 36

Relevant Laws

GERMAN:

Bundesgesetz über den Datenschutz (DSG) vom 19. Juni 1992

Bundesgesetz über das Öffentlichkeitsprinzip der Verwaltung (Öffentlichkeitsgesetz, BGÖ) vom 17. Dezember 2004

Verordnung über das Öffentlichkeitsprinzip der Verwaltung (Öffentlichkeitsverordnung, VBGÖ) vom 24. Mai 2006

FRENCH:

Loi fédérale sur la protection des données (LPD) du 19 juin 1992

Loi fédérale sur le principe de la transparence dans l’administration (Loi sur la transparence, LTrans) du 17 décembre 2004

Ordonnance sur le principe de la transparence dans l’administration (Ordonnance sur la transparence, OTrans) du 24 mai 2006

ITALIAN:

Legge federale sulla protezione dei dati (LPD) del 19 giugno 1992

Legge federale sul principio di trasparenza dell’amministrazion (Legge sulla trasparenza, LTras) del 17 dicembre 2004

Ordinanza sul principio di trasparenza dell’amministrazion (Ordinanza sulla trasparenza, OTras) del 24 maggio 2006

ENGLISH:

Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP) of 19 June 1992(complete translation)

Federal Act on Freedom of Information in the Administration (Freedom of Information Act, FoIA) of 17 December 2004(complete translation)

Ordinance on Freedom of Information in the Administration (Freedom of Information Ordinance, FoIO) of 24 May 2006(complete translation)

Activities:

Annual report 2018/2019:

Contact details:

Address: Feldeggweg 1, CH 3003 Bern, Switzerland
Website: www.edoeb.admin.ch

Phone:+0584637484
Email:info@edoeb.admin.ch

Autorité cantonale de la transparence et de la protection des données / Kantonale Behörde für Öffentlichkeit und Datenschutz

Fribourg (Switzerland)

Autorité cantonale de la transparence et de la protection des données / Kantonale Behörde für Öffentlichkeit und Datenschutz

Fribourg (Switzerland)

Head of authority: Martine Stoffel, Préposée cantonale à la transparence.

Martine Stoffel est Préposée cantonale à la transparence pour le canton de Fribourg depuis 2018.

Martine Stoffel dispose d’une licence en ethnologie et sinologie, obtenue à l’Université de Zurich, et d’un master en études juridiques, de l’Université de Fribourg. Elle a travaillé dix ans comme collaboratrice scientifique et collaboratrice du Secrétaire général de l’Académie suisse des sciences humaines et sociales ASSH, puis comme consultante dans une entreprise bernoise active dans le conseil juridique international et la médiation, avant d’entrer dans les services du rectorat de l’Université de Fribourg.

Territory: Suisse, canton de Fribourg
Continent: Europe
Competence: Privacy/Data Protection and ATI/RTI
Year established: 2011 pour la loi sur l’information et l’accès aux documents (LInf). Mais l’Autorité de protection des données existait déjà auparanvant.
Number of staff: 4 The authority is also responsible for overseeing data protection regulation for the canton of Fribourg. The Head of Authority for data protection is Ms Florence Henguely.

Relevant Laws

Loi sur l’information et l’accès aux documents LInf

Ordonnance sur l’accès aux documents

Loi sur la protection des données LPrD

Activities:

Rapport d’activité 2019

Tätigkeitsbericht 2019

Contact details:

Address: Kantonale Behörde für Öffentlichkeit und Datenschutz ÖDSB Rue des Chanoines 2 1700 Fribourg
Website: https://www.fr.ch/cha/atprd

Phone:+41263055971

Préposé cantonal à la protection des données et à la transparence (Genève)

Geneva (Switzerland)

Préposé cantonal à la protection des données et à la transparence (Genève)

Geneva (Switzerland)

Head of authority: Stéphane Werly

In 2004, Stéphane Werly successfully defended his thesis entitled “La protection du secret rédactionnel”. After obtaining a lectureship at the Universities of Fribourg and Neuchâtel, he is now a full professor at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Neuchâtel, where he teaches communication law. In 2011, the Federal Council appointed him as a judge on the Independent Complaints Authority for Radio and Television (ICA). Since 2014, he has held the position of Cantonal Data Protection and Transparency Commissioner.

Territory: Switzerland
Continent: Europe
Competence: Privacy/Data Protection and ATI/RTI
Year established: 2010
Number of staff: 3

Relevant Laws

Loi sur l’information du public, l’accès aux documents et la protection des données personnelles du 5 octobre 2001 (LIPAD)

Activities:

Rapport annuel

Contact details:

Address: Boulevard Helvétique 27, 1207 Genève
Website: https://www.ge.ch/ppdt/

Phone:+41225465240
Email:ppdt@etat.ge.ch

Scottish Information Commissioner

Scotland (United Kingdom)

Scottish Information Commissioner

Scotland (United Kingdom)

Head of authority: David Hamilton

David Hamilton took up post as Scottish Information Commissioner in October 2023, for a fixed term of six years. As Commissioner, David is responsible for the enforcement and promotion of Scotland's freedom of information laws. This includes handling appeals about the way in which Scottish public authorities respond to information requests, promoting good practice and monitoring and assessing FOI performance. David previously spent 27 years serving with the Police in Scotland. He also served as Chair of the Scottish Police Federation, was a founding director of the justice and social affairs magazine 1919 and is an experienced aid worker.

Continent: Europe
Competence: ATI/RTI only
Jurisdiction: National
Year established: 2003
Number of staff: 29

Relevant Laws

Scottish Information Commissioner

The Scottish Information Commissioner is responsible for enforcing and promoting freedom of information (FOI) law in Scotland, which includes:

Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) – An Act of the Scottish Parliament which gives everyone the right to ask for any information held by a Scottish public authority.
Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (the EIRs) – These regulations come from a European Directive on access to environmental information and give everyone the right to ask for environmental information held by a Scottish public authority (and some other bodies).
INSPIRE (Scotland) Regulations 2009 (INSPIRE) – These regulations also come from a European Directive, and require Scottish public authorities to make spatial datasets (e.g. map data) available.

Activities:

Latest annual reports

Contact details:

Address: Office of the Scottish Information Commissioner, Kinburn Castle, Doubledykes Road, St Andrews, Scotland, KY16 9DS
Website: https://www.foi.scot/

Phone:+4401334464610
Email:enquiries@foi.scot

Adviescollege Openbaarheid en Informatiehuishouding

Netherlands

Adviescollege Openbaarheid en Informatiehuishouding

Netherlands

Advisory Board on Open Government and Information Management

Native name: Adviescollege Openbaarheid en Informatiehuishouding (ACOI)

Year established: 2022

Number of staff: 21

Continent: Europe

Head of authority

Chairperson: Ineke van Gent

“As a former Member of Parliament, I know better than anyone how important it is that the government is open about its actions and provides insight into its considerations. It is important that people can understand how the government makes certain decisions, that is what openness is for.”

Short bio (max 100 words): Ineke van Gent is the Chairperson of ACOI and a former Member of the Dutch House of Representatives (1998–2012). She has served as Mayor of Schiermonnikoog since September 2017 and leads the Advisory Board on Open Government and Information Management (part-time) since June 2022. Her career focuses on democratic transparency, public administration and accessible government.

Current activities & experience

Chairman of Advisory Board on Open Government and Information Management — Part-time (June 2022 – present)
Mayor of Schiermonnikoog — Full-time (September 2017 – present)
Member of the House of Representatives — Full-time (1998 – 2012)

More about Ineke van Gent: Ineke van Gent - Wikipedia

Territorial scope & competence

Jurisdiction: The Netherlands

Continent: Europe

Scope: National

Competence: ATI/RTI only; Ombudsman role

Relevant law(s)

Open Government Act

Open Government Act (ACOI)

Note: English translation is complete except for chapter 9 (Amendments to certain Acts of Parliament) and the schedule mentioned in article 8.8 of the Open Government Act.

Activities & publications

Jaarverslag ACOI 2024 (latest annual report)

Website: www.acoi.nl

Social: LinkedIn • BlueSky • Mastodon

Newsletter sign-up: Subscribe

Contact details

Wilhelmina van Pruisenweg 52
2595 AN Den Haag
The Netherlands

Email: info@acoi.nl
Phone: +31 70 426 6643
Website: https://www.acoi.nl/

Phone:+03031231113
Email:info@edoeb.admin.ch

Information Commissioner's Office

United Kingdom

Information Commissioner's Office

United Kingdom

Head of authority: John Edwards

Mr. Edwards was educated in New Plymouth, New Zealand and achieved a Bachelor of Laws and Masters in Public Policy at the University of Wellington.

He worked as a solicitor and barrister for more than 14 years, including time as a policy adviser to the New Zealand Prime Minister and Cabinet around Freedom of Information. From February 2014 to December 2021 he was New Zealand Privacy Commissioner.

Continent: Europe
Competence: Privacy/Data Protection and ATI/RTI
Year established: 1984
Number of staff: 856

Relevant Laws

List of legislation we cover:

Freedom of Information Act 2000

Environmental Information Regulations 2004

Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2015

INSPIRE regulations 2009

Data Protection Act 2018

UK General Data Protection Regulations

Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003

UK eIDAS Regulation

NIS Regulations 2018

Investigatory Powers Act 2016

Activities:

Annual report 2020 – 21

Contact details:

Address: Wycliffe House
Water
Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9
5AF
Website: www.ico.org.uk

Phone:+03031231113
Email:info@edoeb.admin.ch

Europe

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