In his capacity as President of the Executive Committee of the International Conference of Information Commissioners (ICIC), the Information and Data Protection Commissioner, Mr Besnik Dervishi, chaired the fourth plenary meeting of the Executive Committee, during which key issues relating to the organization of the forthcoming annual conference, the governance of the organization, and ICIC’s strategic initiatives were discussed.
The Executive Committee reviewed the progress made in the preparations for the annual conference. Members were informed that participation from ICIC member jurisdictions has been encouraging, with registrations received from a significant number of countries. The Committee also discussed the finalization of the conference programme, including the composition of the thematic panels and the participation of international speakers.
The Committee was further briefed on the election process for new members of the Executive Committee. Four nominations have been received from Azerbaijan, Germany, New Zealand, and South Africa. The electronic voting process will take place between 27 August and 27 September 2026.
Another important item on the agenda was the consideration of the application submitted by the Information and Privacy Agency of Kosovo to host the 2028 ICIC Conference. The Executive Committee decided to establish an evaluation panel to assess the application and submit its recommendations for consideration.
As part of the ongoing efforts to strengthen ICIC’s governance structures, the Executive Committee approved the closure of the Training Working Group due to its inactivity. The Committee also reviewed the latest developments concerning the Memorandum of Understanding with UNESCO, the signing of which is scheduled to take place during the ICIC 2026 Conference.
The Executive Committee also approved a new format for regional reports, which will place greater emphasis on regional developments and strategic priorities, thereby contributing to enhanced coordination and cooperation across the ICIC network.
In its capacity as the ICIC Secretariat, the Office of the Commissioner also convened the final meeting of the Conference Planning Committee, focusing on the finalization of the conference agenda and the coordination of the remaining organizational arrangements.
During the same week, the Working Group on Vulnerable Groups held a meeting during which its Action Plan for the second half of 2026 was adopted. The Action Plan envisages the implementation of an international survey, the presentation of its findings at the ICIC 2026 Conference, and the organization of a series of webinars aimed at promoting and enhancing access to the right to information for vulnerable groups.
