Presentation of the twinning project “Support in the implementation of the modernized legal framework for the protection of personal data”

On July 1, 2021, the online presentation of the twinning project “Support in the implementation of the modernized legal framework for the protection of personal data” was held, which will be implemented by the consortium composed of the Agency for the Protection of Personal Data of the Republic of Croatia and the German Foundation for international legal cooperation of the Federal Republic of Germany.

The main goal of the project is to improve the protection of basic human rights and the national system for the protection of personal data in North Macedonia in accordance with the standards of the legislation of the European Union. A specific goal of the project is to improve the performance of the Personal Data Protection Agency for the implementation of the modernized legal framework for the protection of personal data by strengthening institutional capacities, the legal and regulatory framework and public awareness of personal data protection.

In the opening address, the director of AZLP Mr. Imer Aliu emphasized that “The twinning project begins at a crucial moment for the Agency, taking into account that the process of compliance with the new Personal Data Protection Law ends in August. The agency has existed for 16 years and is constantly developing. Hence, the project is also important for strengthening the institutional capacities of the Agency. The agency has an experienced and dedicated team that will cooperate with colleagues and experts from Croatia and Germany .” G. Aliu is convinced that there will be a successful and fruitful cooperation and that it will continue even after the completion of the project.

Special thanks to Mr. Aliu expressed to the EU Delegation who enabled and supported this cooperation.

During the presentation of the project, in his opening address, the director of the Agency for the Protection of Personal Data of the Republic of Croatia, Zdravko Vukić, thanked for the trust and the opportunity given to the Agency to support the implementation of the modernized legal framework for the protection of personal data in North Macedonia. : “We understand the difficulties you are facing because until recently we had them ourselves. Together with experienced German colleagues, we can successfully face all challenges and provide support on your way to the European Union. I am sure that together we will achieve sustainable results and that this project will provide a good basis for the work of the Data Protection Agency of North Macedonia and other institutions“.

The twinning project “Support in the implementation of the modernized national framework for the protection of personal data” will be implemented in a period of 15 months. It is planned to achieve more results through the project:

• Creation of guides for the implementation of the novelties of the Law on the Protection of Personal Data on the following topics: transparency and the rights of the subject of personal data, the right to portability of personal data, assessment of the impact of personal data protection, technical and integrated protection of personal data (data protection by design and by default), techniques for pseudonymization and anonymization, processing of personal data for scientific, historical and statistical purposes, transfer of personal data, making automatic decisions including profiling;
• Development of standard operating procedures for efficient execution of the Agency’s new competences arising from the Law on Personal Data Protection;
• Development of a methodology for the harmonization of the sectoral regulation and assessment of the impact of the protection of personal data regulated in the Law on the Protection of Personal Data;
• Strengthening the capacities of the employees of the Agency and the employees of other relevant state institutions and law enforcement bodies by organizing workshops related to the novelties of the General Regulation for the Protection of Personal Data and the so-called Police Directive; and
• Preparation of new tools for controllers and citizens for easier implementation of the Law on Personal Data Protection.