Article 61 GDPR

← Article 61 - Mutual assistance →
Chapter 1: General provisions Article 1: Subject-matter and objectives Article 2: Material scope Article 3: Territorial scope Article 4: Definitions Chapter 2: Principles Article 5: Principles relating to processing of personal data Article 6: Lawfulness of processing Article 7: Conditions for consent Article 8: Conditions applicable to child’s consent in relation to information society services Article 9: Processing of special categories of personal data Article 10: Processing of personal data relating to criminal convictions and offences Article 11: Processing which does not require identification Chapter 3: Rights of the data subject Article 12: Transparent information, communication and modalities for the exercise of the rights of the data subject Article 13: Information to be provided where personal data are collected from the data subject Article 14: Information to be provided where personal data have not been obtained from the data subject Article 15: Right of access by the data subject Article 16: Right to rectification Article 17: Right to erasure (‘right to be forgotten’) Article 18: Right to restriction of processing Article 19: Notification obligation regarding rectification or erasure of personal data or restriction of processing Article 20: Right to data portability Article 21: Right to object Article 22: Automated individual decision-making, including profiling Article 23: Restrictions Chapter 4: Controller and processor Article 24: Responsibility of the controller Article 25: Data protection by design and by default Article 26: Joint controllers Article 27: Representatives of controllers or processors not established in the Union Article 28: Processor Article 29: Processing under the authority of the controller or processor Article 30: Records of processing activities Article 31: Cooperation with the supervisory authority Article 32: Security of processing Article 33: Notification of a personal data breach to the supervisory authority Article 34: Communication of a personal data breach to the data subject Article 35: Data protection impact assessment Article 36: Prior consultation Article 37: Designation of the data protection officer Article 38: Position of the data protection officer Article 39: Tasks of the data protection officer Article 40: Codes of conduct Article 41: Monitoring of approved codes of conduct Article 42: Certification Article 43: Certification bodies Chapter 5: Transfers of personal data Article 44: General principle for transfers Article 45: Transfers on the basis of an adequacy decision Article 46: Transfers subject to appropriate safeguards Article 47: Binding corporate rules Article 48: Transfers or disclosures not authorised by Union law Article 49: Derogations for specific situations Article 50: International cooperation for the protection of personal data Chapter 6: Supervisory authorities Article 51: Supervisory authority Article 52: Independence Article 53: General conditions for the members of the supervisory authority Article 54: Rules on the establishment of the supervisory authority Article 55: Competence Article 56: Competence of the lead supervisory authority Article 57: Tasks Article 58: Powers Article 59: Activity reports Chapter 7: Cooperation and consistency Article 60: Cooperation between the lead supervisory authority and the other supervisory authorities concerned Article 61: Mutual assistance Article 62: Joint operations of supervisory authorities Article 63: Consistency mechanism Article 64: Opinion of the Board Article 65: Dispute resolution by the Board Article 66: Urgency procedure Article 67: Exchange of information Article 68: European Data Protection Board Article 69: Independence Article 70: Tasks of the Board Article 71: Reports Article 72: Procedure Article 73: Chair Article 74: Tasks of the Chair Article 75: Secretariat Article 76: Confidentiality Chapter 8: Remedies, liability and penalties Article 77: Right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority Article 78: Right to an effective judicial remedy against a supervisory authority Article 79: Right to an effective judicial remedy against a controller or processor Article 80: Representation of data subjects Article 81: Suspension of proceedings Article 82: Right to compensation and liability Article 83: General conditions for imposing administrative fines Article 84: Penalties Chapter 9: Specific processing situations Article 85: Processing and freedom of expression and information Article 86: Processing and public access to official documents Article 87: Processing of the national identification number Article 88: Processing in the context of employment Article 89: Safeguards and derogations relating to processing for archiving purposes in the public interest, scientific or historical research purposes or statistical purposes Article 90: Obligations of secrecy Article 91: Existing data protection rules of churches and religious associations Chapter 10: Delegated and implementing acts Article 92: Exercise of the delegation Article 93: Committee procedure Chapter 11: Final provisions Article 94: Repeal of Directive 95: /46: /EC Article 95: Relationship with Directive 20: 02: /58: /EC Article 96: Relationship with previously concluded Agreements Article 97: Commission reports Article 98: Review of other Union legal acts on data protection Article 99: Entry into force and application

Legal Text

Article 61 - Mutual Assistance

1. Supervisory authorities shall provide each other with relevant information and mutual assistance in order to implement and apply this Regulation in a consistent manner, and shall put in place measures for effective cooperation with one another. Mutual assistance shall cover, in particular, information requests and supervisory measures, such as requests to carry out prior authorisations and consultations, inspections and investigations.

2. Each supervisory authority shall take all appropriate measures required to reply to a request of another supervisory authority without undue delay and no later than one month after receiving the request. Such measures may include, in particular, the transmission of relevant information on the conduct of an investigation.

3. Requests for assistance shall contain all the necessary information, including the purpose of and reasons for the request. Information exchanged shall be used only for the purpose for which it was requested.

4. The requested supervisory authority shall not refuse to comply with the request unless:

(a) it is not competent for the subject-matter of the request or for the measures it is requested to execute; or

(b) compliance with the request would infringe this Regulation or Union or Member State law to which the supervisory authority receiving the request is subject.

5. The requested supervisory authority shall inform the requesting supervisory authority of the results or, as the case may be, of the progress of the measures taken in order to respond to the request. The requested supervisory authority shall provide reasons for any refusal to comply with a request pursuant to paragraph 4.

6. Requested supervisory authorities shall, as a rule, supply the information requested by other supervisory authorities by electronic means, using a standardised format.

7. Requested supervisory authorities shall not charge a fee for any action taken by them pursuant to a request for mutual assistance. Supervisory authorities may agree on rules to indemnify each other for specific expenditure arising from the provision of mutual assistance in exceptional circumstances.

8. Where a supervisory authority does not provide the information referred to in paragraph 5 of this Article within one month of receiving the request of another supervisory authority, the requesting supervisory authority may adopt a provisional measure on the territory of its Member State in accordance with Article 55(1). In that case, the urgent need to act under Article 66(1) shall be presumed to be met and require an urgent binding decision from the Board pursuant to Article 66(2).

9. The Commission may, by means of implementing acts, specify the format and procedures for mutual assistance referred to in this Article and the arrangements for the exchange of information by electronic means between supervisory authorities, and between supervisory authorities and the Board, in particular the standardised format referred to in paragraph 6 of this Article. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 93(2).

Relevant Recitals

Recital 119: Participation in Consistency Mechanism in Case of Multiple Supervisory Authorities

Where a Member State establishes several supervisory authorities, it should establish by law mechanisms for ensuring the effective participation of those supervisory authorities in the consistency mechanism. That Member State should in particular designate the supervisory authority which functions as a single contact point for the effective participation of those authorities in the mechanism, to ensure swift and smooth cooperation with other supervisory authorities, the Board and the Commission.

Recital 123: Cooperation Amongst Supervisory Authorities and with the Commission

The supervisory authorities should monitor the application of the provisions pursuant to this Regulation and contribute to its consistent application throughout the Union, in order to protect natural persons in relation to the processing of their personal data and to facilitate the free flow of personal data within the internal market. For that purpose, the supervisory authorities should cooperate with each other and with the Commission, without the need for any agreement between Member States on the provision of mutual assistance or on such cooperation.

Recital 133: Mutual Assistance and Provisional Measures

The supervisory authorities should assist each other in performing their tasks and provide mutual assistance, so as to ensure the consistent application and enforcement of this Regulation in the internal market. A supervisory authority requesting mutual assistance may adopt a provisional measure if it receives no response to a request for mutual assistance within one month of the receipt of that request by the other supervisory authority.

Commentary

Administrative assistance enables the requesting supervisory authority to access knowledge that it would otherwise not have and could not gain, at least for territorial reasons. The subject of administrative assistance under Paragraph 1 can be all types of supervisory measures in support of any supervisory duties and powers.

(1) Mutual assistance to implement and apply the GDPR in a consistent manner

Article 61 does not shine for clarity. If, on the one hand, it seems manifest that the ultimate goal of the cooperation is to "implement and apply [the] Regulation in a consistent manner", it is not clear, on the other hand, what the instruments are that an authority can use to achieve this goal.

In fact, whilst the "Mutual assistance" between authorities seems to be identified as the principal instrument of the task, Article 61(1) also refers to other concepts or tasks. In particular, DPAs "provide each other with relevant information" and "put in place measures for effective cooperation". By using the conjunction "and", the lawmaker seems to suggest that "information" and" measures" are alternatives to the "Mutual assistance". Probably, as the most sound doctrine states, it is simply a case of poor legislative technique.

It follows that the attention of the interpreter can focus on the central concept of "Mutual assistance", which can, in turn, be obtained through a series of tools such as "relevant information" and "measures for effective cooperation". Under paragraph 1, in particular, requests for Mutual assistance "shall cover […] information requests and supervisory measures, such as requests to carry out prior authorisations and consultations, inspections and investigations" [emphasis added].

(2) DPAs have to act on the assistance request

Following the request for assistance, the authority shall reply without delay and, in any event, no later than one month after receipt of the request. The provision's wording indicates that, in principle, the answer shall not consist of a mere update but rather the outcome of the requested activities. However, it seems entirely foreseeable that the deadline will not be met in some cases, especially if the requested activities involve dealing with third parties or complex investigation operations.

(3) Requirements and limits of the assistance request

The request for administrative assistance must contain all the information necessary enabling the requested authority to comply with it without delay. The Regulation stipulates that the information includes the purpose and reasons for the request. Therefore, the requested information must be tailored to the subject matter of the request and can only be used in that context. However, scholars suggest that the requirement should not be interpreted in an overly restrictive fashion. For example, the request (and the information it implies) may trigger ex-officio investigations (on both sides).

(4) Exceptions

The requested supervisory authority shall not refuse to comply with the request unless (a) it is not competent for the subject matter of the request or for the measures it is requested to execute, or (b) compliance with the request would infringe the Regulation or Union or Member State law to which the supervisory authority receiving the request is subject.

We agree with some authors that letter (b) contains letter (a) because it is the same European law that defines the supervisory authorities' competence and the measures they can take. Therefore, a request for administrative assistance may only be refused if the requested authority is forced to act unlawfully, either under Union or domestic law. However, the domestic law that limits the obligation to provide administrative assistance must, for its part, conform with Union law. In particular, the regulation does not authorise the Member States to create further grounds for refusing administrative assistance.

In any case, according to paragraph 5 below, the requested supervisory authority shall provide reasons for any refusal to comply with a request under paragraph 4.

(5) Constant updates are required following the request

Paragraph 5 seems to require the requested authority to communicate the results of the request or, if not possible (see Par. 2 above), at least an update on the progress of the procedure, in particular by making clear which "measures [has been] taken in order to respond".

Paragraph 5, sentence 2 imposes an obligation on the requested authority to give reasons if a request for administrative assistance is rejected. However, the mere assertion of a possible legal violation is not sufficient for this. Instead, the requested authority must substantiate why it cannot comply with the request. In the event of rejection due to lack of competence, the principle of genuine cooperation between the supervisory authorities requires the requested authority to inform the requesting authority of the competent authority.

(6) Modalities and other aspects

Paragraph 6 sets out the principle of electronic communication between the supervisory authorities without excluding other forms of communication ("as a rule"). In urgent cases, for example, information can also be transmitted by telephone or by other means.

(7) Fees

Mutual assistance requests shall be carried out free of charge. The idea behind the exemption from fees is that the proper implementation of Union law is a matter of common interest (Article 197(1) TFEU). It is argued that costs for administrative assistance of the individual Member States converge or offset each other in the long term. Therefore, mutual invoicing of individual administrative assistance would only generates additional administrative effort, but no additional income.

However, in exceptional circumstances, DPAs can arrange agreements to indemnify each other for specific expenditures arising from the provision of mutual assistance. These include, for example, expenses for experts or interpreters or expenses in the event of particular difficulties with administrative assistance.

(8) Inaction of the requested authority

According to Paragraph 8, first sentence, if, within one month of receiving the request, the requested DPA does not inform the requesting supervisory authority of the results or, as the case may be, of the progress of the measures taken in order to respond to the request (Article 61(5) GDPR), the requesting supervisory authority may adopt a provisional measure on the territory of its Member State under Article 55(1).

If the authority do so, the consequences seem to be two, both of them derogatory to the standard procedure set forth by Article 66. First, the DPA do not have to prove the urgency required by Article 66(1) for "normal" urgency cases (in fact, the urgency "shall be presumed"). Second, the provisional measure will be subject to an "urgent binding decision from the Board". This second consequence is also exceptional because, as opposed to Article 66(2), under which the DPA may request either a binding or non-binding decision from the EDPB, in this case, there is no choice: there will be an assessment by the EDPB the outcome of which will be binding.

(9) Implementing acts by the Commission

The Commission may, by means of implementing acts, specify the format and procedures for mutual assistance referred to in Article 61 and the arrangements for the exchange of information by electronic means between supervisory authorities, and between supervisory authorities and the Board, in particular, the standardised format referred to in paragraph 6 of this Article. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 93(2).

Decisions

→ You can find all related decisions in Category:Article 61 GDPR