Which institution has the authority to adopt adequacy findings for the European Union?

The European Commission has the authority to adopt adequacy findings for the European Union, which is important for determining whether a non-EU country offers an adequate level of data protection. Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), an adequacy finding allows personal data to be transferred from the EU to a third country without requiring additional safeguards. The European Commission assesses the legal framework and practices of the third country and determines if they provide a level of protection comparable to what is required within the EU itself.

The other entities mentioned do play roles in the broader context of data protection; for instance, Working Party 29, now known as the European Data Protection Board, provides guidance and opinions but does not have the power to make adequacy decisions. The European Data Protection Supervisor oversees compliance with data protection regulations within EU institutions but does not address adequacy findings for external jurisdictions. The European Court of Justice primarily interprets EU law and can rule on cases regarding data protection but does not directly issue adequacy findings itself.