The Spanish Data Protection Agency trains professionals from the Ukrainian Ombudsman’s Office in a FIIAPP project

Video surveillance, drones and biometric technologies are the reality of today’s world. With the rapid development of technology, the protection of personal data goes far beyond the traditional paper-based registration.

Recognising the importance of improving skills in this area, the EU4DigitalUA project has organised a second traineeship for the staff of the Secretariat of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, which takes place from 13 to 24 November 2023 in Madrid.

Participants are working with the Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD), exchanging experiences with foreign colleagues. The programme includes not only theoretical training, but also the resolution of practical tasks, covering privacy impact assessments, risk management and personal data breach procedures.

“Ukraine is currently on the difficult path of transforming its personal data legislation and bringing it into line with European and international standards, which is a commitment of our state under the Association Agreement with the EU, and enables its further integration. The exchange of experiences with European colleagues is particularly important in this context,” commented Andrew Nikolaev, Key Expert on Personal Data Protection at EU4DigitalUA.

The internships contribute to the development of professional skills of Ukrainian specialists. These exchanges of experience with European organisations such as the AEPD will bring Ukraine closer to European standards in this field.

Yulia Derkachenko, representative of the Information Rights Commissioner, said: “During the traineeships, special attention was paid to the latest technologies, such as the Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence, and their importance in the context of personal data protection. Participants have deeply immersed themselves in the study of modern video surveillance systems, the use of drones and biometrics. We express our gratitude to the EU4DigitalUA project and the AEPD for this opportunity to exchange experiences in order to improve the level of personal data protection in Ukraine.”

The EU4DigitalUA project collaborates with the Spanish Data Protection Agency, which is responsible for compliance with European standards in Spain and has invaluable experience in this field.

“Institutional collaboration, the exchange of knowledge and the dissemination of the principles and guarantees contained in the General Data Protection Regulation is one of the strategic areas of work of the Spanish Data Protection Agency.The Agency is one of the most active authorities at European level in the protection of this fundamental right of citizens and collaborating with other bodies allows us to transfer, in addition to theoretical knowledge, the practical aspects of the effective application of the GDPR and to share the day-to-day experience of the work of the supervisory authorities”, explained Luis de Salvador, director of the Technological Innovation Division of the AEPD.

The first traineeship of the staff of the Ukrainian Ombudsman’s Office at the Spanish Data Protection Agency took place in July 2023.