Xhaferi: Privacy and personal data protection is a fundamental right of citizens
Skopje, 7 October 2022 (MIA) – Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi addressed on Friday the final event of the EU Twinning Project on Support to the Implementation of the Modernised Data Protection Legal Framework.
According to the Parliament Speaker, privacy and personal data protection is a fundamental right of citizens. In order for this to be achieved, it is necessary for national authorities for the protection of personal data to be professionally prepared and legally supported in every segment of their activities. Also, citizens should be fully informed about which information is public and which is private, and which personal data may be requested and who may request it.
“Privacy and personal data protection as fundamental right set forth in Article 18 of the Constitution of the Republic of North Macedonia assumes the guarantee of protection against violation of personal integrity and protection of other human rights and fundamental freedoms during the collection, processing and use of personal data. They are a mandatory segment of the day-to-day functioning of all institutions at central and local level, which means that one should be particularly careful when implementing these processes. It is in this part that the national authorities for the protection of personal data, as specialists in the field, play an extremely important role,” said Xhaferi.
According to him, the starting point should be consistent observance of the Law on Personal Data Protection dated 2020, which is aligned with the European regulation in the field of personal data protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of their personal data, the free movement of such data and for the repeal of the General Data Protection Regulation.
“Even more important is building and strengthening capacities to work with such data. By this I mean all stakeholders including controllers/processors and subjects of personal data. I believe the key project goals for improving personal data protection and privacy protection through the prepared relevant guidelines and procedures and workshops conducted with employees have been met, and in the future, we can expect positive results in this sensitive area. This means better use of the applicable regulations and law by experts and human capacities for the implementation of such legal provisions,” Xhaferi said.
In his address, he also highlighted the political, financial and functional independence of the Personal Data Protection Agency, stressing that it was established by law and conditions should be created for it to function efficiently and effectively.
Xhaferi said he was convinced that if everyone contributes to their segment of action, both the Agency and the citizens will be more satisfied and trust in the state and state institutions will grow.
