Europol Defence

EDPS Complaint

The European Data Protection Supervisor is Europol's independent watchdog — and has itself taken Europol to court over its data practices.

Direct answer: Where Europol's response to a data access or deletion request is unsatisfactory, you can file a free complaint with the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS), the independent authority overseeing Europol's compliance with data protection rules. The EDPS itself has previously taken Europol to the Court of Justice of the European Union over aspects of its data retention practices, underscoring that this is a genuinely independent check, not a formality.
01

Free and Independent

Filing an EDPS complaint carries no cost, and the EDPS reviews Europol's decisions independently of the agency itself.

02

Europol Must Justify Itself

Europol must document the factual and legal reasons behind its decision, allowing the EDPS to assess whether they are valid.

03

Real Precedent for Robust Oversight

The EDPS has previously sought annulment of Europol Regulation provisions before the CJEU over data retention concerns.

04

A Step, Not Necessarily the End

An unfavourable EDPS decision does not close off further judicial remedy before the CJEU.

Frequently Asked

Common Questions

Does an EDPS complaint cost anything?

No — filing a complaint with the European Data Protection Supervisor is free of charge.

Is the EDPS truly independent of Europol?

Yes — the EDPS has itself brought legal action against Europol over its data retention practices, demonstrating genuine independence.

What happens if the EDPS complaint doesn't resolve the issue?

You can pursue a further judicial remedy before the Court of Justice of the European Union.

Considering an EDPS Complaint?

Speak with us confidentially before filing.