The Council of Europe and the ICT Academy of the Office of the Commissioner of Communications of Cyprus brought together high-level representatives of data protection authorities and national authorities responsible for AI governance from across the Southern Mediterranean and Europe on 23-24 June in Cyprus, for a regional conference organised within the framework of the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme South Programme VI* and with the support of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) .
This regional conference on “data protection authorities and national authorities responsible for AI governance in the Southern Mediterranean region” provided a platform for strengthening regional dialogue, international cooperation and peer-to-peer exchanges on emerging challenges and practical experiences at the intersection of data protection and artificial intelligence.
Through expert presentations and case studies, participants explored national and international developments, practical aspects of personal data protection in AI systems, and the Council of Europe’s human rights-based approach to AI governance, including the HUDERIA methodology and model on risk and impact assessment of AI systems from the perspective of human rights, rule of law and democracy.
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The conference directly contributed to the objectives of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the European Union’s Pact for the Mediterranean, in particular its Pillar II on Prosperity. Its focus on digital transformation promotes stronger data protection frameworks and sustainable AI governance, supports partner countries in aligning practice with international standards while fostering innovation and cross-border digital cooperation. |
The conference marked the launch of the first regional HELP course on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights in Arabic. The course support professionals in navigating the relevant legal and regulatory landscape, while fostering ethical decision-making, supporting assessment and management of potential adverse impacts related to activities within the lifecycle of the AI systems.
* This conference is organised with the support of the joint European Union-Council of Europe programme “Strengthening the Euro-Mediterranean legal space for shared prosperity and human security” (South Programme VI), co-financed by the two organisations and implemented by the Council of Europe.
For more information, please visit the conference webpage.
