# Designation of the data protection officer 37(3) — GDPR — provision context

> Focused context for a single provision (37(3)), curated from overview.legal on 2026-08-22. Canonical: https://overview.legal/laws/gdpr/art-37#par-3
> Verify against the official text (EUR-Lex / wetten.overheid.nl) before relying on it.

Part of **Designation of the data protection officer** (GDPR, full article: https://overview.legal/laws/gdpr/art-37).

## Provision text

### 37(3)

Where the controller or the processor is a public authority or body, a single data protection officer may be designated for several such authorities or bodies, taking account of their organisational structure and size.


## Topics on this provision

- **Public Authority** — https://overview.legal/topics/overheid
  Government bodies and their data processing activities
- **Public Sector** — https://overview.legal/topics/public-sector
  Processing by public authorities
- **Processors** — https://overview.legal/topics/processors
  Entities that process data on behalf of controllers
- **Supervisory Authorities** — https://overview.legal/topics/supervisory-authorities
  National data protection authorities and their powers
- **Controllers** — https://overview.legal/topics/controllers
  Entities that determine purposes and means of processing

## Cited by (exact-provision citations)

- **Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 3 May 2018.#Republic of Malta v European Commission.#Access to documents — Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 — Documents held by the Commission — Documents originating from a Member State — Documents exchanged pursuant to the control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy — Article 113 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 — Public access following a request made by a non-governmental organisation — Action for annulment** (case-law) — https://overview.legal/posts/132343
- **Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 3 May 2018.#Republic of Malta v European Commission.#Access to documents — Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 — Documents held by the Commission — Documents originating from a Member State — Documents exchanged pursuant to the control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy — Article 113 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 — Public access following a request made by a non-governmental organisation — Action for annulment** ¶148 (case-law, General Court) — https://overview.legal/posts/132343
- **Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 3 May 2018.#Republic of Malta v European Commission.#Access to documents — Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 — Documents held by the Commission — Documents originating from a Member State — Documents exchanged pursuant to the control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy — Article 113 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 — Public access following a request made by a non-governmental organisation — Action for annulment** ¶126 (case-law, General Court) — https://overview.legal/posts/132343
- **Guidelines 01/2023 on Article 37 Law Enforcement Directive** (guidance) — https://overview.legal/posts/125738
- **EDPB-EDPS Joint Opinion 02/2023 on the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of the digital euro** (guidance) — https://overview.legal/posts/125823

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Generated by overview.legal · https://overview.legal/laws/gdpr/art-37#par-3 · 2026-08-22