About EFDPO
Working together is success
The EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) marks a milestone in data protection and is used as a blueprint for similar pieces of legislation across the globe. In view of the GDPR’s impact, the representation of our interests as national associations of data protection officers (DPOs) at the European level is becoming increasingly important. This applies particularly in the context of the GDPR review process, starting in 2020. Thus, we need to ensure that our concerns are heard and considered by European regulators. We are convinced that the intensification of our cooperation and the creation of a strong network between European DPO organizations will lead to success and strengthen data protection as a competitive and locational advantage for Europe.
The EFDPO was founded in Berlin on 7 June 2019. Founding members are national associations for data protection officers from Austria, France, Germany, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Greece and Liechtenstein. The main objectives are to represent the interests of data protection officers in Brussels.
Among other things, the EU federation wants to support the establishment of an EU certification standard for data protection officers.
We see data protection officers as key experts in companies and institutions, they ensure the entrepreneurial capacity to act under the GDPR and, at the same time, ensure that consumer and civil rights are observed with regard to data protection. This also relieves the burden on national data protection supervisory authorities.
The scope of the EFDPO is not limited to data protection officers, but also takes into account the interests of other emerging professions in data protection, such as the data protection auditor or the data protection coordinator.
Become a member of EFDPO!
If your association wants to benefit from our mutual exchange of information, an increased awareness as part of our network, regular dialogue with supervisory authorities, joint events and conferences with attractive discounts for your members, find out more about our membership.

News from EFDPO
EFDPO Position Paper on the Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on harmonised rules on fair access to and use of data (Data Act)
The Data Act aims to create a Europe-wide legal framework for the access to, use and sharing of data generated in the EU. With this proposal the European Commission aims to create, among other things, a unified environment for improving the exchange and use of data...
EFDPO as guest at conference in Prague
On 6 October 2022, the traditional autumn conference of the Association for Personal Data Protection dedicated to the issue of personal data processing “GDPR 2022” was held in Prague for the sixth time.
EFDPO welcomes EDPB’s focus on the designation and position of data protection officers
Press Release The designation and position of data protection officers (DPOs) will be the focus of the second coordinated enforcement action by European data protection supervisory authorities. This was announced by the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) following...
DPOs as facilitators for the successful implementation of the Data Act
Corporate data is to be used better in Europe in the future. The Data Act is therefore intended to enable companies to gain better access to data from other companies in order to create new data-driven business models and innovations. How is this law to be...
Pierre-Yves Lastic appointed Secretary General of EFDPO
On July 8, 2022, the Board of Directors of the European Federation of Data Protection Officers (EFDPO) appointed Dr. Pierre-Yves Lastic, Vice-President of the French Union of Data Protection Officers (UDPO), as Secretary General of EFDPO. As Secretary General Dr....
FAQ: Data Protection Officers
Data Protection Officers Do you process large amounts of personal data? Are you scared of terms like GDPR, ePrivacy, cookies, data breach, but you work with the data of a large number of people? Consider engaging a data protection officer (DPO). The responsible...
EFDPO held General Assembly in Berlin
First General Assembly of the EFDPO On May 12th the General Assembly of the EFDPO brought together representatives from the member associations in Berlin and online. The discussion made visible the recent successful collaboration in the interest of the DPOs in Europe....
Privacy Symposium in Venice: 5-7th April 2022
The EFDPO encourages you to attend the first edition of the Privacy Symposium in Venice, on April 5-7 2022! It provides a great opportunity to meet your peers, top level experts and authorities, as well as to discover the latest changes and upcoming developments in the data protection domain.
Data Protection Day 2022
To celebrate the Data Protection Day we publish an impressive speech by Prof. Niko Härting who has been consistently listed among the best lawyers in IT law in the Best Lawyers Ranking since 2014.
Successful UDPO Congress in Paris
On July 6 and 7, the 3rd European congress of the UDPO (Union des DPO, French association of DPOs) took place. The congress took place in the prestigious Marriott Hotel located on the Champs Elysées in Paris.