FIIAPP shares knowledge of the Spanish Data Protection Agency with Ukraine

The Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD) has hosted an internship organised by the EU4DigitalUA project, in support of e-Government and the Digital Economy in Ukraine, for staff of the Ukrainian Ombudsman’s Office. In a context where the amount and sensitivity of shared data is constantly increasing, safeguarding data protection and information security is becoming increasingly important. In view of the growing demand for highly trained professionals in the field of personal data protection in Ukraine, and considering the context of war that has affected the country, the FIIAPP has organised, through the EU4DigitalUA project, specialised training practices in the field of data protection provided by the AEPD for Ukrainian professionals.    

“The EU4DigitalUA project works closely with the Spanish Data Protection Agency, which has been responsible for ensuring European compliance standards in Spain for many years and has valuable experience in this field,” explained Andrew Nikolaiev, personal data protection expert of the EU4DigitalUA programme. “We are pleased to give Ukrainian specialists the opportunity to do an internship at the Agency, as international cooperation is essential to ensure the highest standards of data protection in Ukraine,” he added. 

A step towards bringing Ukraine closer to Europe   

“These two weeks of work have given Ukrainian specialists the opportunity to learn about best practices in Spain in the implementation of the GDPR, risk management and personal data breaches, as well as in the processing of personal data by state authorities using new technologies such as the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, video surveillance, drones and biometrics,” said Yuliia Derkachenko, the representative of the Commissioner for Information Rights in Ukraine.   

“The collaboration between the Spanish and Ukrainian experts has been very fruitful: it has allowed for an exchange of knowledge between both teams, has made it easier to learn about the reality of the application of the principles of data protection in the economic and social sphere and to cement future collaborative actions between both authorities, which will result in a better guarantee of fundamental rights and freedoms”, emphasised Luis de Salvador, director of the Technological Innovation Division of the AEPD.   

“Having the opportunity to carry out this type of training, where Ukrainian professionals have worked side by side with their Spanish counterparts, is of inestimable value. This exchange of knowledge not only strengthens the training of Ukrainian specialists, but also promotes close collaboration between institutions, a hallmark of the cooperation we carry out at the FIIAPP. This close link between institutions enhances the implementation of best practices in data protection and lays the groundwork for future collaboration and joint learning for the benefit of both countries and their respective societies,” said María Gastón, EU4DigitalUA coordinator at FIIAPP.     

This initiative represents a significant step towards the implementation of European data protection standards in Ukraine and promotes international cooperation as a key element to ensure information security and privacy in the country.