The Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection, Mr, Rodoljub Sabic, received today Mr. Troy Pederson, acting Deputy US Ambassador to Belgrade. They addressed the results and issues in the exercise of freedom of information and implementation of modern personal data protection standards in Serbia. They also discussed the possible modalities of cooperation between the institution of the Commissioner and the US Mission to Belgrade.
Noting that the talks had been very constructive, Commissioner Rodoljub Sabic said:
"The United States is undoubtedly among countries with very high, indeed the highest standards as regards freedom of information. It is therefore very good and greatly inspiring that members of the US Mission are not only familiar in detail with the activities taken by the Commissioner so far in the exercise of the freedom of information, but are also highly commendatory of our efforts.
"We concurred that much remains to be done in the implementation and provision of modern personal data protection standards in Serbia. The fact that the USA has personal data protection mechanisms that are substantially different from those applied by the EU - which are, of course, also adopted by Serbia - points to the need to ensure best possible contacts in this field between the institution of the Commissioner for Free Access to Information and Personal Data Protection and the American companies that are present in our economic area and will hopefully increase their presence in the years to come. I am referring in particular to cross-border transfer of personal data (of employees, customers etc.) by those companies, where, without prejudice to their efficient operation, safeguards need to be put in place in accordance with relevant standards adopted by Serbia.
"We agreed that past cooperation between the Commissioner and the US partners, notably USAID and the American Bar Association, in the implementation of projects relating primarily to education of human resources on the application of the Law on Free Access to Information had been sound and fruitful. In light of the expressed interest of the US Embassy to provide appropriate assistance to contribute to capacity building of the institution of the Commissioner, we also discussed possible modalities for such assistance."
