Bodobalazs: 1 revision imported: GDPRHUB import 2023 04 18

2023-04-18T15:01:38Z

1 revision imported: GDPRHUB import 2023 04 18

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![[Article 53 GDPR|←]] Article 54 - Rules on the establishment of the supervisory authority [[Article 55 GDPR|→]]
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<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" overflow:auto;" style="border-width: 0px">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 1: General provisions</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 1 GDPR|Article 1: Subject-matter and objectives]]<br />
[[Article 2 GDPR|Article 2: Material scope]]<br />
[[Article 3 GDPR|Article 3: Territorial scope]]<br />
[[Article 4 GDPR|Article 4: Definitions]]<br />
</small>
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" overflow:auto;" style="border-width: 0px">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 2: Principles</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 5 GDPR|Article 5: Principles relating to processing of personal data]]<br />
[[Article 6 GDPR|Article 6: Lawfulness of processing]]<br />
[[Article 7 GDPR|Article 7: Conditions for consent]]<br />
[[Article 8 GDPR|Article 8: Conditions applicable to child’s consent in relation to information society services]]<br />
[[Article 9 GDPR|Article 9: Processing of special categories of personal data]]<br />
[[Article 10 GDPR|Article 10: Processing of personal data relating to criminal convictions and offences]]<br />
[[Article 11 GDPR|Article 11: Processing which does not require identification]]<br />
</small>
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" overflow:auto;" style="border-width: 0px">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 3: Rights of the data subject</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 12 GDPR|Article 12: Transparent information, communication and modalities for the exercise of the rights of the data subject]]<br />
[[Article 13 GDPR|Article 13: Information to be provided where personal data are collected from the data subject]]<br />
[[Article 14 GDPR|Article 14: Information to be provided where personal data have not been obtained from the data subject]]<br />
[[Article 15 GDPR|Article 15: Right of access by the data subject]]<br />
[[Article 16 GDPR|Article 16: Right to rectification]]<br />
[[Article 17 GDPR|Article 17: Right to erasure (‘right to be forgotten’)]]<br />
[[Article 18 GDPR|Article 18: Right to restriction of processing]]<br />
[[Article 19 GDPR|Article 19: Notification obligation regarding rectification or erasure of personal data or restriction of processing]]<br />
[[Article 20 GDPR|Article 20: Right to data portability]]<br />
[[Article 21 GDPR|Article 21: Right to object]]<br />
[[Article 22 GDPR|Article 22: Automated individual decision-making, including profiling]]<br />
[[Article 23 GDPR|Article 23: Restrictions]]<br />
</small>
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" overflow:auto;" style="border-width: 0px">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 4: Controller and processor</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 24 GDPR|Article 24: Responsibility of the controller]]<br />
[[Article 25 GDPR|Article 25: Data protection by design and by default]]<br />
[[Article 26 GDPR|Article 26: Joint controllers]]<br />
[[Article 27 GDPR|Article 27: Representatives of controllers or processors not established in the Union]]<br />
[[Article 28 GDPR|Article 28: Processor]]<br />
[[Article 29 GDPR|Article 29: Processing under the authority of the controller or processor]]<br />
[[Article 30 GDPR|Article 30: Records of processing activities]]<br />
[[Article 31 GDPR|Article 31: Cooperation with the supervisory authority]]<br />
[[Article 32 GDPR|Article 32: Security of processing]]<br />
[[Article 33 GDPR|Article 33: Notification of a personal data breach to the supervisory authority]]<br />
[[Article 34 GDPR|Article 34: Communication of a personal data breach to the data subject]]<br />
[[Article 35 GDPR|Article 35: Data protection impact assessment]]<br />
[[Article 36 GDPR|Article 36: Prior consultation]]<br />
[[Article 37 GDPR|Article 37: Designation of the data protection officer]]<br />
[[Article 38 GDPR|Article 38: Position of the data protection officer]]<br />
[[Article 39 GDPR|Article 39: Tasks of the data protection officer]]<br />
[[Article 40 GDPR|Article 40: Codes of conduct]]<br />
[[Article 41 GDPR|Article 41: Monitoring of approved codes of conduct]]<br />
[[Article 42 GDPR|Article 42: Certification]]<br />
[[Article 43 GDPR|Article 43: Certification bodies]]<br />
</small>
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" overflow:auto;" style="border-width: 0px">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 5: Transfers of personal data</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 44 GDPR|Article 44: General principle for transfers]]<br />
[[Article 45 GDPR|Article 45: Transfers on the basis of an adequacy decision]]<br />
[[Article 46 GDPR|Article 46: Transfers subject to appropriate safeguards]]<br />
[[Article 47 GDPR|Article 47: Binding corporate rules]]<br />
[[Article 48 GDPR|Article 48: Transfers or disclosures not authorised by Union law]]<br />
[[Article 49 GDPR|Article 49: Derogations for specific situations]]<br />
[[Article 50 GDPR|Article 50: International cooperation for the protection of personal data]]<br />
</small>
</div></div>

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<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 6: Supervisory authorities</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 51 GDPR|Article 51: Supervisory authority]]<br />
[[Article 52 GDPR|Article 52: Independence]]<br />
[[Article 53 GDPR|Article 53: General conditions for the members of the supervisory authority]]<br />
[[Article 54 GDPR|Article 54: Rules on the establishment of the supervisory authority]]<br />
[[Article 55 GDPR|Article 55: Competence]]<br />
[[Article 56 GDPR|Article 56: Competence of the lead supervisory authority]]<br />
[[Article 57 GDPR|Article 57: Tasks]]<br />
[[Article 58 GDPR|Article 58: Powers]]<br />
[[Article 59 GDPR|Article 59: Activity reports]]<br />
</small>
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" overflow:auto;" style="border-width: 0px">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 7: Cooperation and consistency</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 60 GDPR|Article 60: Cooperation between the lead supervisory authority and the other supervisory authorities concerned]]<br />
[[Article 61 GDPR|Article 61: Mutual assistance]]<br />
[[Article 62 GDPR|Article 62: Joint operations of supervisory authorities]]<br />
[[Article 63 GDPR|Article 63: Consistency mechanism]]<br />
[[Article 64 GDPR|Article 64: Opinion of the Board]]<br />
[[Article 65 GDPR|Article 65: Dispute resolution by the Board]]<br />
[[Article 66 GDPR|Article 66: Urgency procedure]]<br />
[[Article 67 GDPR|Article 67: Exchange of information]]<br />
[[Article 68 GDPR|Article 68: European Data Protection Board]]<br />
[[Article 69 GDPR|Article 69: Independence]]<br />
[[Article 70 GDPR|Article 70: Tasks of the Board]]<br />
[[Article 71 GDPR|Article 71: Reports]]<br />
[[Article 72 GDPR|Article 72: Procedure]]<br />
[[Article 73 GDPR|Article 73: Chair]]<br />
[[Article 74 GDPR|Article 74: Tasks of the Chair]]<br />
[[Article 75 GDPR|Article 75: Secretariat]]<br />
[[Article 76 GDPR|Article 76: Confidentiality]]<br />
</small>
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" overflow:auto;" style="border-width: 0px">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 8: Remedies, liability and penalties</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 77 GDPR|Article 77: Right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority]]<br />
[[Article 78 GDPR|Article 78: Right to an effective judicial remedy against a supervisory authority]]<br />
[[Article 79 GDPR|Article 79: Right to an effective judicial remedy against a controller or processor]]<br />
[[Article 80 GDPR|Article 80: Representation of data subjects]]<br />
[[Article 81 GDPR|Article 81: Suspension of proceedings]]<br />
[[Article 82 GDPR|Article 82: Right to compensation and liability]]<br />
[[Article 83 GDPR|Article 83: General conditions for imposing administrative fines]]<br />
[[Article 84 GDPR|Article 84: Penalties]]<br />
</small>
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" overflow:auto;" style="border-width: 0px">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 9: Specific processing situations</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 85 GDPR|Article 85: Processing and freedom of expression and information]]<br />
[[Article 86 GDPR|Article 86: Processing and public access to official documents]]<br />
[[Article 87 GDPR|Article 87: Processing of the national identification number]]<br />
[[Article 88 GDPR|Article 88: Processing in the context of employment]]<br />
[[Article 89 GDPR|Article 89: Safeguards and derogations relating to processing for archiving purposes in the public interest, scientific or historical research purposes or statistical purposes]]<br />
[[Article 90 GDPR|Article 90: Obligations of secrecy]]<br />
[[Article 91 GDPR|Article 91: Existing data protection rules of churches and religious associations]]<br />
</small>
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" overflow:auto;" style="border-width: 0px">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 10: Delegated and implementing acts</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 92 GDPR|Article 92: Exercise of the delegation]]<br />
[[Article 93 GDPR|Article 93: Committee procedure]]<br />
</small>
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" overflow:auto;" style="border-width: 0px">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Chapter 11: Final provisions</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<small>
[[Article 94 GDPR|Article 94: Repeal of Directive 95: /46: /EC]]<br />
[[Article 95 GDPR|Article 95: Relationship with Directive 20: 02: /58: /EC]]<br />
[[Article 96 GDPR|Article 96: Relationship with previously concluded Agreements]]<br />
[[Article 97 GDPR|Article 97: Commission reports]]<br />
[[Article 98 GDPR|Article 98: Review of other Union legal acts on data protection]]<br />
[[Article 99 GDPR|Article 99: Entry into force and application]]<br />
</small>
</div>
</div>
|}

== Legal Text ==
<br /><center>'''Article 54 - Rules on the establishment of the supervisory authority'''</center>

<span id="1">1. Each Member State shall provide by law for all of the following:</span>

::<span id="1a">(a) the establishment of each supervisory authority;</span>

::<span id="1b">(b) the qualifications and eligibility conditions required to be appointed as member of each supervisory authority;</span>

::<span id="1c">(c) the rules and procedures for the appointment of the member or members of each supervisory authority;</span>

::<span id="1d">(d) the duration of the term of the member or members of each supervisory authority of no less than four years, except for the first appointment after 24 May 2016, part of which may take place for a shorter period where that is necessary to protect the independence of the supervisory authority by means of a staggered appointment procedure;</span>

::<span id="1e">(e) whether and, if so, for how many terms the member or members of each supervisory authority is eligible for reappointment;</span>

::<span id="1f">(f) the conditions governing the obligations of the member or members and staff of each supervisory authority, prohibitions on actions, occupations and benefits incompatible therewith during and after the term of office and rules governing the cessation of employment.</span>

<span id="2">2. The member or members and the staff of each supervisory authority shall, in accordance with Union or Member State law, be subject to a duty of professional secrecy both during and after their term of office, with regard to any confidential information which has come to their knowledge in the course of the performance of their tasks or exercise of their powers. During their term of office, that duty of professional secrecy shall in particular apply to reporting by natural persons of infringements of this Regulation.</span>

== Relevant Recitals==
{{Recital/121 GDPR}}
==Commentary==

Article 54 GDPR combines two very different objectives under the heading “''Establishment of the supervisory authority''”. Article 54(1) GDPR contains a list of the individual specifications to be made by the Member States in national legislation regarding Articles 51-53 GDPR in order to ensure the establishment of an independent supervisory authority (“SA”). Article 54(2) GDPR regulates the special data protection confidentiality obligation of the respective member or members of the SA. Such confidentiality obligations already existed in Article 28(7) Directive 95/46. Whereas this provisions seems to be of direct application, it does not preclude national legislation to further specify the confidentiality obligations of the members of the SA and its staff.

=== (1) Elements Provided by Member States Law ===
Article 54(1) GDPR mandates Member States’ law to provide for all the elements listed below.

==== (a) Establishment of the Supervisory Authority ====
Article 54(1)(a) GDPR repeats the content of Article 51(1) GDPR. Considering that the Member State may have appointed several authorities, the law should provide for the conditions and rules regarding the establishment of each of them. Member States are free to choose for a monocratic or a collegial body.

==== (b) Qualifications and Eligibility Conditions for SA's Members ====
Article 54(1)(b) GDPR clearly refers to Article 53(2) GDPR according to which the members of the SA will require qualifications, experience and skills as a prerequisite for being hired as a data protection supervisor. “''Qualification''”, “''experience''” and “''skills''” are vague legal terms that, in the absence of comprehensive EU competence for general and vocational education, should be further specified in national law. It seems (from the use of “''and''” in Article 53(2) GDPR) that these conditions are cumulative. The way the law will construct the assessment of these competence is still not clear and does not preclude the Member States from establishing an assessment of the candidates based on a test.

==== (c) The Rules and Procedures for the Appointment of SA's Members ====
As already seen under Article 53(1) GDPR, Member States shall establish rules and procedures for the appointment of the member or members of each SA.

==== (d) Duration of the Term ====
Each Member State is obliged to regulate by law the term of office of the member or members of each SA. The minimum term is four years which presumably corresponds to the regular length of a legislative period in most EU Member States.<ref>This seems to create a link between data protection supervision and the parliament or, where the case, the executive branch responsible for the appointment.</ref> Member States are free to set longer terms. However, a term of office that is in principle for life or is to last until retirement should be excluded since subsequent Article 54(1)(e) GDPR addresses the question of reappointment and therefore assumes a limited duration of the position.<ref>''Polenz'', in Simitis, Hornung, Spiecker gen. Döhmann, Datenschutzrecht, Article 54 GDPR, margin numbers 8 (Nomos 2019).</ref>

==== (e) Whether and, if so, for how Many Reappointment is Possible ====
Article 54(1)(e) GDPR imparts on the Member States to regulate through national law whether and how often the reappointment of the member or members of a SA is permissible. A reappointment ban (only one mandate being possible) is conceivable, but also a limitation of the number of reappointment can be laid down in the law.

==== (f) Rules on Members' Occupation, Prohibitions, Incompatible Actions and Benefits ====
Under Article 54(1)(f) GDPR, Member States shall provide by law the conditions governing the obligations of the member or members and staff of each SA, prohibitions on actions, occupations and benefits incompatible therewith during and after the term of office, and rules governing the cessation of employment. Such conditions can be laid down in national law or in a contract (where the staff is subject to an employment contract). They concern:

===== i) The Obligations of the Members and the Staff of the Supervisory Authority =====
With regard to this mandate, Member States’ law must stipulate the obligation to exercise their office with integrity and independence. The mandate of the SAs is laid down in Article 51(1) GDPR, namely the monitoring of the application of the GDPR, in order to protect the data protection rights on the one hand, and on the other hand, to facilitate the free flow of personal data within the Union.

===== ii) Prohibitions on Actions, Occupations and Benefits Incompatible Therewith During and After the Term of Office =====
The rules laid down by national law are to be linked with Article 52(3) GDPR. It is particularly important that the national legislation does not limit itself to reproducing the text of Articles 52(3) GDPR and 54(2)(f) GDPR, but further specifies what is to be understood as “''incompatible''”, and “''prohibited occupations, actions and benefits''”. A “cooling off” period should also be specified after the end of the term of office as data protection supervisor, whereby periods of 18-24 months can be viewed as an EU-wide minimum standard.

===== iii) The Termination Rules =====
The ordinary and extraordinary reasons for termination of office are regulated in Article 53(3) GDPR. Therefore, Member States only have to regulate the procedure in the event of dismissals, (i.e. in particular who decides on the existence of the extraordinary reasons for termination, the period within which a dismissal is to be decided and under which procedure). Naturally, these rules should not impair the independence of the SA, as required by Article 52 GDPR.

=== (2) Duty of Professional Secrecy ===
The duty to keep information confidential is of the essence for a trust-based exercise of the investigative powers of SAs. Similar obligations exist regarding competition authorities and other regulatory bodies supervising economic operators.

The notion of confidential information, which is the subject of this obligation, is to be linked with the notion of confidential obligation under Article 339 TFEU. As recognised by the CJEU, information should be considered as confidential if it fulfills the following conditions: (i) The information is known only to a limited number of people; (ii) disclosure of the information can cause serious harm to the person who has provided it or to third parties; (iii) the interests likely to be harmed by disclosure must, objectively, be worthy of protection. The test of Article 339 TFEU requires a reinforced protection for business secrets.

The definition of Article 339 TFEU can be applied on the obligation of secrecy and confidentiality of the SAs. In this context, such confidentiality shall also apply in particular to reporting of infringements of the GDPR by natural persons. That is due to the core activity of the SA: its staff should pay particular attention to the protection of the holders of fundamental rights, whose rights could be impaired if their names were disclosed to the public.

A link between the obligation of confidentiality should be established with the right to access one's file under the right to good administration (Article 41(2)(b) CFR) and the right to access to documents (Article 42 CFR and Regulation 1049/2001), but also with the right to data protection. Access to documents can be limited on the basis of the obligation of confidentiality and/or the protection of personal data of individuals. Balancing these rights can however be difficult in practice since the right to be heard implies that the complainant can access the file, which in turn could include confidential information.

Information is only protected if it has come to the knowledge of a member or an employee of a SA “''in the course of the performance of their tasks or exercise of their powers''”. Considering the broad dimension of powers under Article 58 GDPR, this protection will apply to a large range of information.

The wording of Article 54(2) GDPR both refers to EU law and national law. Therefore, in order to fully understand the implication of this provision, one should also read Member States’ legislation. The provision evidently prohibits any member or staff of an SA to share the confidential information with a third party or to disclose it to the public without prior authorisation. However, this prohibition will not apply when SAs exchange information pursuant to the cooperation mechanism under Articles 60, 61, 64, 65 GDPR.

Furthermore, the obligation of confidentiality only applies to the staff and the members of the SA. Thus, subject to restrictions under national law, nothing appears to prevent the parties to the proceedings (including the complainant) from sharing the information obtained from the SA.

Finally, the obligation of confidentiality also applies after the end of the activity. In this case, a specific duration of the duty of confidentiality should be determined in each individual case based on the need for protection of the information and the consequences to be expected from disclosure.
==Decisions==
→ You can find all related decisions in [[:Category:Article 54 GDPR]]

==References==
<references />
[[Category:GDPR Articles]]

Article 54 GDPR - Revision history

Bodobalazs: 1 revision imported: GDPRHUB import 2023 04 18