Commission Decision (EU) 2018/1927 of 5 December 2018 laying down internal rules concerning the processing of personal data by the European Commission in the field of competition in relation to the provision of information to data subjects and the restriction of certain rights
Subject-matter and scope
1. This Decision lays down the rules to be followed by the Commission to inform data subjects of the processing of their data in accordance with Articles 14, 15 and 16 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1725, in the framework of its activities in the field of competition.
It also lays down the conditions under which the Commission may restrict the application of Articles 4, 14 to 17, 19, 20 and 35 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1725, in accordance with Article 25 thereof.
2. This Decision applies to the processing of personal data by the Commission for the purpose of or in relation to the activities carried out in order to fulfil its tasks pursuant to Articles 101 to 109 of the Treaty.
Applicable exceptions and restrictions
1. Where the Commission exercises its duties with respect to the data subjects' rights pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2018/1725, it shall consider whether any of the exceptions laid down in that Regulation apply.
2. Subject to Articles 3 to 7 of this Decision, the Commission may restrict the application of Articles 14 to 17, 19, 20 and 35 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1725, as well as the principle of transparency laid down in Article 4(1)(a) in so far as its provisions correspond to the right and obligations provided for in Articles 14 to 17, 19, 20 and 35 of the Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 where the exercise of those rights and obligations would jeopardise the purpose of the Commission's investigative and enforcement activities, including by revealing its investigative tools and methods, or would adversely affect the rights and freedoms of other data subjects.
3. Subject to Articles 3 to 7, the Commission may restrict the rights and obligations referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article in relation to personal data obtained from other Union institutions, bodies, agencies and offices, competent authorities of Member States or third countries or from international organisations, in the following circumstances:
(a)
where the exercise of those rights and obligations could be restricted by other Union institutions, bodies, agencies and offices on the basis of other acts provided for in Article 25 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 or in accordance with Chapter IX of that Regulation or in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/794 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 6 ) or Council Regulation (EU) 2017/1939 ( 7 ) ;
(b)
where the exercise of those rights and obligations could be restricted by competent authorities of Member States on the basis of acts referred to in Article 23 of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 8 ) , or under national measures transposing Articles 13(3), 15(3) or 16(3) of Directive (EU) 2016/680 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 9 ) ;
(c)
where the exercise of those rights and obligations could jeopardise the Commission's cooperation with third countries or international organisations in the conduct of competition investigations or enforcement of competition decisions.
Before applying restrictions in the circumstances referred to in points (a) and (b) of the first subparagraph, the Commission shall consult the relevant Union institutions, bodies, agencies, offices or competent authorities of the Member States unless it is clear to the Commission that the application of a restriction is provided for by one of the acts referred to in those points.
Point (c) of the first subparagraph shall not apply where the interest of the Commission to cooperate with third countries or international organisation is overridden by the interests or fundamental rights and freedom of the data subjects.
4. Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 are without prejudice to the application of other Commission decisions laying down internal rules concerning the provision of information to data subjects and the restriction of certain rights under Article 25 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 and to Article 23 of the Rules of Procedure of the Commission.
Provision of information to data subjects
1. The Commission shall publish on its website data protection notices that inform all data subjects of its activities involving processing of their personal data.
2. Without prejudice to Articles 14(5) and 16(5) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1725, where the Commission restricts, wholly or partly, the provision of information to data subjects, whose data are processed for purposes of competition investigation or enforcement (including related operational activities) it shall record and register the reasons for the restriction in accordance with Article 6.
Right of access by data subject, right of erasure and to restriction of processing
1. Where the Commission restricts, wholly or partly, the right of access to data by data subjects, the right of erasure, or the right to restriction of processing as referred to in Articles 17, 19 and 20 respectively of Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 it shall inform the data subject concerned, in its reply to the request for access, erasure or restriction of processing, of the restriction applied and of the principal reasons thereof, and of the possibility of lodging a complaint with the European Data Protection Supervisor or of seeking a judicial remedy in the Court of Justice of the European Union.
2. The provision of information concerning the reasons for the restriction referred to in paragraph 1 may be omitted for as long as it would undermine the purpose of the restriction.
3. The Commission shall record and register the reasons for the restriction in accordance with Article 6.
4. Where the right of access is wholly or partly restricted, the data subject shall exercise his or her right of access through the intermediary of the European Data Protection Supervisor, in accordance with paragraphs 6, 7 and 8 of Article 25 of the Regulation (EU) 2018/1725.
Communication of personal data breaches to data subjects
Where the Commission restricts the communication of a personal data breach to the data subject, as referred to in Article 35 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1725, it shall record and register the reasons for the restriction in accordance with Article 6 of this Decision.
Recording and registering of restrictions
1. The Commission shall record the reasons for any restriction applied pursuant to this Decision, including an assessment of the necessity and proportionality of the restriction.
2. To that end, the record shall state how the exercise of the right would jeopardise the purpose of the Commission's investigation and enforcement activities, or of restrictions applied pursuant to Article 2(2) or (3), or would adversely affect the rights and freedoms of other data subjects.
3. The record and, where applicable, the documents containing underlying factual and legal elements shall be registered. They shall be made available to the European Data Protection Supervisor on request.
Duration of restrictions
1. Restrictions referred to in Articles 3, 4 and 5 shall continue to apply as long as the reasons justifying them remain applicable.
2. Where the reasons for a restriction referred to in Article 3 or 5 no longer apply, the Commission shall lift the restriction and provide the reasons for the restriction to the data subject. At the same time, the Commission shall inform the data subject of the possibility of lodging a complaint with the European Data Protection Supervisor at any time or of seeking a judicial remedy in the Court of Justice of the European Union.
3. The Commission shall review the application of the restrictions referred to in Articles 3 and 5 every year and at the closure of the relevant investigation.
Review by the Data Protection Officer
1. The Data Protection Officer shall be informed, without undue delay, whenever data subjects' rights are restricted in accordance with this Decision. Upon request, the Data Protection Officer shall be provided with access to the record and any documents containing underlying factual and legal elements.
2. The Data Protection Officer may request a review of the restriction. The Data Protection Officer shall be informed about the outcome of the requested review.
Entry into force
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of entry into force of Regulation (EU) 2018/1725.
Source: EUR-Lex (Publications Office of the EU), © European Union, reuse permitted under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU.
