Malta’s Information and Data Protection Commissioner (IDPC) Reno Borg, and Marco Fagnano, Legal Counsel and AI Regulatory Manager at the IDPC, participated in the 24th Meeting of Central and Eastern Europe Data Protection Authorities (CEEDPA), held in Zadar, Croatia, on 25 and 26 September.

Hosted by the Croatian Personal Data Protection Agency (AZOP) under the auspices of the Croatian Parliament as well as the Polish Data Protection Authority, the meeting brought together representatives of data protection authorities from across Europe, as well as senior officials from the European Data Protection Board (EDPB), the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) and the Council of Europe.

This year’s discussions focused on some of the most pressing issues facing data protection authorities, including artificial intelligence, fundamental rights impact assessments and the implementation of the European Health Data Space (EHDS) Regulation. Participants exchanged experiences and best practices on ensuring that technological innovation develops in a manner that safeguards privacy and other fundamental rights.

The programme included expert-led workshops on AI governance, data protection impact assessments and the use of health data across borders, providing a platform for authorities to share practical knowledge and strengthen cooperation.

The meeting concluded with the adoption of the Zadar Declaration on Strengthening Regional Cooperation on Data Protection, Artificial Intelligence and Health Data, reaffirming the commitment of participating authorities to closer collaboration, responsible use of health data and the careful assessment of AI-related impacts.

The participation of Commissioner Dr Borg and Dr Fagnano highlighted Malta’s continued engagement in European discussions on data protection, artificial intelligence and emerging digital regulatory challenges.