EU Representative Services (Article 27 GDPR)

If your organisation is established outside the EU/EEA yet processes personal data of EU residents, GDPR Article 27 mandates you designate an EU Representative. Direct Hit serves as your statutory EU Representative: Lisbon-based, Brussels-connected, and fully authorised to liaise with data protection authorities, handle data subject requests, and manage breach notifications on your behalf.

Who Must Appoint an EU Representative?

GDPR Article 27(1) requires an EU Representative for:

  • Non-EU controllers offering goods or services to EU residents or monitoring their behaviour (regardless of whether processing occurs in the EU)
  • Non-EU processors providing processing services to EU residents

Exceptions: Public authorities or bodies without commercial purposes are exempt.

Examples requiring an EU Representative:
US SaaS company offering cloud services to EU customers | UK fintech app accessible to EU residents | Australian healthcare provider processing EU patient data | Non-EU processor handling HR data for EU groups

The Direct Hit EU Representative Model

Direct Hit is a Lisbon-based data protection firm with deep connections to EU regulatory bodies (EDPB, national DPAs, and the European Commission). As your EU Representative, we serve as your statutory point of contact and assume responsibility for:

Authority Liaison & Regulatory Correspondence

We serve as your direct point of contact for data protection authorities (CNPD in Portugal, relevant DPAs in other EU jurisdictions). All regulator inquiries, investigations, and formal decisions are addressed to us. We relay communications promptly and provide you with recommended responses.

Data Subject Requests

EU residents have the right to exercise access, rectification, erasure, portability, and objection rights. Regulators may refer EU residents to your EU Representative if your organisation lacks an EU establishment. We receive, log, and coordinate responses to data subject requests, ensuring GDPR timelines (typically 30–45 days) are met.

Breach Notifications

Upon a data breach affecting EU residents, you must notify the relevant DPA and affected individuals within 72 hours. We coordinate breach notifications on your behalf, liaising with authorities and ensuring statutory compliance. This includes supporting your investigation and remediation efforts.

Privacy Policy & Transparency

Your privacy notices and GDPR transparency requirements must identify us as your EU Representative and provide our contact details. We provide template language and ensure your data protection statements comply with GDPR transparency obligations.

Audit & Compliance Support

If a DPA conducts a compliance audit or investigation, we coordinate your response, provide documentation, and represent your interests in communications with authorities. We ensure you understand obligations and remediation timelines.

Why Direct Hit as Your EU Representative?

Lisbon Base, Brussels Network

Lisbon is the Portuguese regulatory hub; Brussels hosts the EDPB and EU Commission. We maintain relationships with regulatory bodies across the EU, enabling efficient, informed advocacy on your behalf.

Bilingual & Multilingual Expertise

EU Representative services require fluency in local regulatory languages. Our team speaks Portuguese, English, and additional EU languages, ensuring clear communication with diverse DPAs.

Legal Accountability

As your EU Representative, we assume statutory responsibility for regulatory compliance. Our designation documentation is registered with relevant authorities, and we maintain professional liability insurance covering EU Representative duties.

Cost Efficiency

Designating an EU Representative is legally required; outsourcing to an established firm (rather than hiring a dedicated role) reduces cost, overhead, and complexity. Our model allows you to focus on your core business whilst we manage compliance.

What's Included in the Service?

  • Formal EU Representative appointment and registration with relevant authorities
  • Privacy notice template incorporating EU Representative contact details
  • Dedicated point of contact for all regulatory communications
  • Data subject request coordination and response support
  • Breach notification handling and authority liaison (72-hour protocol)
  • DPA investigation and audit support
  • Quarterly compliance status reports
  • Access to regulatory updates and guidance
  • Advisory support on emerging compliance issues

Pricing

EU Representative services are typically offered as a monthly retainer or project-based engagement:

  • Standard Monthly Retainer: €400–€800/month (low-touch, minimal regulatory interactions)
  • Premium Monthly Retainer: €800–€1,500/month (higher interaction, multiple jurisdictions, complex processing)
  • Project-Based (Breaches, Audits, Investigations): €150–€300/hour or fixed project fees
Contact us for a custom quote based on your organisation's size, processing scope, and jurisdictional footprint.

Cross-Links & Resources

For additional information on EU Representative requirements and services, explore:

Getting Started

To appoint Direct Hit as your EU Representative:

  1. Schedule a consultation to confirm you require an EU Representative and outline your processing activities
  2. Execute an EU Representative Agreement documenting roles, responsibilities, and contact protocols
  3. Update your privacy notices to identify us as your EU Representative
  4. Register us with relevant DPAs (we coordinate this)
  5. Begin receiving regulatory communications and managing compliance through us

Ensure Your EU Compliance

Non-EU organisations processing EU resident data need a compliant EU Representative. Let's get you started today.

Appoint Direct Hit as Your EU Representative