In which cases is the dispute resolution mechanism of Art. 65.1 (c) GDPR triggered?
While Art. 65 (a) and (b) relate to the one-stop-mechanism, Art.65.1 (c) GDPR concerns obligations of Data Protection Authorities (DPAs) stemming from the consistency mechanism.
More specifically, every competent DPA has the duty to request an opinion from the EDPB before adopting national measures pursuant to article 64.1 GDPR. Such measures include lists of processing operations for which a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) is required, or the approval of a new set of standard clauses. In addition, under Art. 64.2 GDPR, any SA may also request an EDPB consistency opinion on any matter of general application or producing effects in more than one Member State.
If an DPA does not request the opinion of the EDPB for the cases listed under Art. 64.1 GDPR or does not follow the EDPB opinion issued under Art. 64 GDPR, any DPA and the European Commission can launch the dispute resolution procedure of Art. 65.1 (c) GDPR about the matter.
The dispute resolution mechanism of Art. 65 GDPR has been triggered - what happens next?
Within one month from the referral of the subject matter, the EDPB must adopt a decision by a two-thirds majority.
The one-month deadline to adopt this binding decision can be extended by another month, if the case is complex. When the EDPB is not able to reach a decision within the abovementioned period, the decision must be adopted by a simple majority within two additional weeks. Should the members of the EDPB be split, the decision will be adopted by the vote of the EDPB Chair.
The EDPB has adopted its binding decision: when is it notified to the relevant national Data Protection Authorities (DPAs), in which language and what happens next?
Once the EDPB has adopted a binding decision, the EDPB Chair notifies the binding decision to the relevant national Data Protection Authorities (DPAs) without undue delay.
Prior to the notification, the binding decision is translated into the languages of the relevant national DPAs that have to adopt a final decision or take measures at national level on the basis of the binding decision1. Translation and proofreading can take a few weeks. In any case, the English version of the decision is the only authentic language version.
Next step for the relevant Data Protection Authorities (DPAs)
Once the relevant SAs have been notified of the binding decision, a decision has to be adopted at national level to implement the content of the binding decision. This decision will be adopted without undue delay and at the latest one month after the EDPB has notified its decision. For cross-border cases where no consensus was found (Art. 65.1 (a) GDPR), the final decision will be addressed to the controller or processor and, where relevant, to the complainant.
Please see paragraphs 6 and 7 of Art. 11 of the EDPB Rules of Procedure. In exceptional cases, other Concerned Supervisory Authority (CSAs) can request, providing the reasons, an urgent translation in their official EU language(s) no later than at the moment of adoption of the binding decision.
The EDPB aims to ensure the consistent application of the General Data Protection Regulation and of the Law Enforcement Directive in the European Economic Area (EEA). The EDPB also looks into the application of certain aspects of the ePrivacy Directive.
Our main tasks and duties are:
providing general guidance (including guidelines, recommendations and best practices) to clarify the law and to promote a common understanding of EU data protection laws;
adopting opinions addressed to the European Commission or to the national Data Protection Authorities (DPAs):
to advise the European Commission on any issue related to the protection of personal data and newly proposed legislation in the European Union (Art. 70 GDPR). In some instances, we issue Joint Opinions together with the EDPS (Art.42 of Regulation 2018/1725);
to ensure consistency of the activities of national data protection authorities (DPAs) on cross-border matters (Art. 64 GDPR). If authorities fail to respect an opinion issued by the EDPB, we may adopt a binding decision;
adopting binding decisions addressed to the national DPAs and aiming to settle disputes between them when they cooperate in cross-border cases, with the purpose of ensuring the correct and consistent application of the GDPR in individual cases;
promoting and supporting the cooperation among national DPAs.
What is the dispute resolution mechanism of Art. 65 GDPR?
When a Lead Supervisory Authority (LSA) issues a draft decision, it consults the Concerned Supervisory Authorities (CSAs), which can express their disagreement with the draft decision by submitting relevant and reasoned objections (RRO) within a period of four weeks (Art. 60.4 GDPR). When none of the CSAs objects, the LSA may proceed to adopt the decision.
In case at least one of the CSAs has expressed an RRO, and if the LSA intends to follow the objection, it shall submit a revised draft decision to all the CSAs. The CSAs then have a period of two weeks (Art. 60.5 GDPR) to express their RROs to the revised draft decision.
However, if the LSA does not intend to follow the objection(s), since no consensus can be reached, the consistency mechanism is triggered. This means that the LSA is obliged to refer the case to the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) and the dispute resolution role of the EDPB is activated (Art. 65.1(a) GDPR).
The dispute resolution mechanism can be triggered in two further cases:
there is a disagreement as to which authority is the LSA (Art. 65.1(b) GDPR);
an SA does not seek the opinion of the EDPB as obliged under Art. 64.1 GDPR or does not follow such an opinion (Art. 64.1 - 2 GDPR) (Art. 65.1(c) GDPR).
The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) is the European Union’s (EU) independent data protection authority.
The EDPS is responsible for monitoring the processing of personal data by the EU institutions, bodies, offices and agencies (EUIs) as well as providing advice on policies and legislation that affect privacy and cooperating with similar authorities to ensure consistent data protection.
What is the purpose of the dispute resolution mechanism of Art. 65.1 (a) and (b) GDPR?
The dispute resolution mechanism triggered under Art.65.1 (a) and (b) GDPR contributes to the good functioning of the cooperation mechanism by addressing any disagreements Concerned Supervisory Authorities (CSAs) may have in a given case or if there are conflicting views as to which authority is the Lead Supervisory Authority (LSA). The EDPB will act as a dispute resolution body. It must adopt a decision to address the conflict between the involved Data Protection Authorities (DPAs), which is binding on them (Art. 65 GDPR). The decision is adopted by a two-thirds majority of the members of the Board, and in case a decision cannot be adopted within 2 months, the decision is adopted within the next 2 weeks by a simple majority.
When will the EDPB’s decision be published in those cases where it settles conflicting views on a draft decision or where it decides on the Lead Supervisory Authority (LSA)?
Once the Lead Supervisory Authority (LSA) or, in some cases the Concerned Supervisory Authority (CSA), with which the complaint was lodged has notified the EDPB of the date its final decision was communicated to the controller or processor and, where relevant, to the complainant, the EDPB will publish its own decision on its website.