Director of the Personal Data Protection Agency of the Republic of North Macedonia
INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF LAWYERS
It was held from March 25 to March 28, 2026..
Bled, Slovenija
The 5th International Congress of Lawyers was held from March 25 to March 28, 2026, in Bled, under the theme Law & Artificial Intelligence.
Today, artificial intelligence is already drafting contracts, analyzing evidence, and supporting decision-making — which is precisely why the Congress focused not on theory, but on practical application in legal practice.
Over the course of four days, participants explored real-life cases through lectures, workshops, and discussions, examining the implementation of the AI Act and practical solutions already being used in the work of institutions and companies.
The Congress addressed key questions:
– what compliance with the AI Act looks like in practice
– how artificial intelligence is already being used in legal work
– how AI can accelerate processes and improve the performance of institutions and companies
A special focus was placed on connecting the legal and technological professions, encouraging the exchange of experience and practical approaches that can be implemented immediately.
What were the key topics?
Artificial Intelligence and Law
Personal Data Protection
AI and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
AI Regulation (EU AI Act)
Privacy and Digital Rights
Data Security in the Digital Environment
Predavači
Isabelle Vereecken
Head of the Secretariat European Data Protection Board
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Biography
Isabelle Vereecken is the Head of the Secretariat of the European Data Protection Board (EDPB). She played a key role in establishing the Secretariat, building it from the ground up. The Secretariat supports the work of the EDPB by drafting official documents, ensuring secure and transparent IT communication among European data protection authorities, managing media relations, and organising EDPB meetings.
Before joining the EDPB, she worked for 10 years as a legal advisor at the Belgian Data Protection Authority, where she specialised in international data transfers and contributed to the work of the Article 29 Working Party. She was also closely involved in the negotiation of the GDPR, working at the European Commission and later supporting the Belgian government as an expert during the negotiations.
She began her career as a researcher at the CRID (Computer and Law Research Centre – University of Namur), focusing on data protection, intellectual property, and e-commerce. She holds a Master’s degree in Law from the University of Louvain-la-Neuve and a postgraduate degree in ICT Law from the University of Namur.
Milan Marinović
Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection, Serbia
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Biographya
Milan Marinović, born in 1963 in Valjevo, is a graduate lawyer with a bar exam. By the decision of the Government of the Republic of Serbia dated August 14, 1998, he was first appointed as a judge in the City Magistrate’s Court in Belgrade and was reappointed to the same position on August 24, 2006. On the proposal of the High Council of Justice, he was elected by the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia on December 29, 2009, as a judge of the Misdemeanor Court in Belgrade for a three-year term. By decision of the High Council of Justice, he was appointed as a permanent judge at the Misdemeanor Court in Belgrade. He has been a member of several working groups for amending existing laws and drafting new regulations. He has received multiple commendations from faculties for supporting student education and holds diplomas and certificates for training in various areas of law, including the Law on the Protection of Whistleblowers, the Law on Preventing Domestic Violence, and EU Asylum and Migration Laws. He is a certified trainer at the Judicial Academy for judges and legal professionals and the author of several works on misdemeanors and misdemeanor proceedings. On December 30, 2009, the High Council of Justice appointed him as the Acting President of the Misdemeanor Court in Belgrade. On May 23, 2014, the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia elected him as the President of the Misdemeanor Court in Belgrade. On July 26, 2019, the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia elected him as Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection.
Nakil Fetai
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Biography
Nakil Fetai is the Director of the Personal Data Protection Agency of the Republic of North Macedonia. In this position, he represents the national independent authority responsible for supervising the lawful processing of personal data and protecting citizens’ rights in the field of privacy. He actively participates in regional and international cooperation between data protection authorities, including initiatives such as “Privacy4Balkans”.
Dr. Polona Pičman Štefančič
MINISTRY OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION of the Republic of Slovenia
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Biography
Dr. Polona Pičman Štefančič from the Ministry of Digital Transformation is a prominent Slovenian legal expert in the fields of artificial intelligence, digital governance, and regulation. She holds a PhD in Law, is a Fulbright alumna, and the author of the book “E-Democracy.” She is also the lead author of Slovenia’s new National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2030 and a strong advocate of trustworthy, human-centric artificial intelligence.
Duje Prkut
Owner of the GDPR compliance consultancy Politicode and Executive Director of the Politiscope association.
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Biography
Duje Prkut is a political scientist, public policy analyst, and licensed personal data protection expert. He is the owner of the GDPR consulting firm Politicode and the Executive Director of the Politiscope association, which focuses on the protection of privacy and digital rights of citizens in the Republic of Croatia and the European Union.
Denis Tul
IT Lawyer / Founder of LawIT
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Biographya
Denis Tul is an expert in IT law and a doctoral candidate at the Faculty of Law for Business and Judiciary. Since 2019, he has led LawIT and serves as Head of Legal and Financial Departments at Mad Head Games. He is a consultant for the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, the Center for Digital Transformation, and several IT companies. He passed the bar exam in 2018 and is the author of the course "Law and IT," the handbook "Personal Data Protection" (published in 2023), several scientific papers, seminars, and informal education programs. LinkedIn
Marko Stefančić
Director of the Slovenian National Competence Centre for Artificial Intelligence
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Biography
An experienced technology executive with more than 25 years of international experience in leading digital transformation, technology strategy, and institutional change across complex markets. He currently serves as Director of the Slovenian National AI Competence Centre (KCUI), where he leads a national consortium for the development of a central artificial intelligence platform, in cooperation with industry, academia, and government. His focus is on strategic governance, governance model design, regulatory compliance, and the alignment of key stakeholders, with the goal of ensuring that the implementation of artificial intelligence strengthens competitiveness while maintaining control over regulatory and reputational risks. He is dedicated to positioning Slovenia as a responsible and credible actor in the field of artificial intelligence in Europe.
Jovan Protić
ILO – International Labour Organization
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Biography
Jovan Protić National Coordinator, International Labour Organization (ILO) in Serbia Jovan Protić has been the National Coordinator of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Serbia since 2008, responsible for representing the ILO and implementing the Decent Work Country Programme for Serbia. He has extensive experience working with international organizations, including the ILO and UNDP, on labour, employment, and public policy reforms. He holds degrees in economics, politics and international relations, law and economics, as well as a PhD in Labour Law from the University of Belgrade.
Ines Krečak
Personal Data Protection Expert, Director at Feralis Group
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Biography
After graduating from the Faculty of Law in Rijeka, she began her career in legal roles within large organizations, where she developed strong expertise in regulatory compliance and personal data protection. After ten years of corporate experience, she shifted her full professional focus to data protection and currently serves as Director of Feralis Group d.o.o. and President of the Croatian Personal Data Protection Center Feralis. As the Croatian representative in the European Federation of Data Protection Officers (EFDPO), she is involved in key national initiatives, including aligning the e-Građani system with the GDPR and participating in the Croatian Government’s AI project “Andrija.” She is an active lecturer and speaker at national and international conferences, collaborates with educational institutions, and is the author of professional publications and the handbook “GDPR in the Workplace.” She holds international certifications and is a member of relevant professional organizations.
Aleksandar Mastilović
Business strategy and innovation planning consultant at the Center for Digital Transformation
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Biography
Aleksandar Mastilović is an internationally recognized expert in telecommunications, digital transformation, and the application of advanced technologies, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence, 5G networks, and smart cities. His interdisciplinary experience includes the technical implementation of modern systems, the development of regulatory frameworks, and market analysis, aimed at fostering competition and preventing monopolization. As the founder of the consulting company AM Consulting and the National Coordinator of UNOPS for Bosnia and Herzegovina, he actively collaborates with international financial institutions and organizations on digital transformation projects in the public and private sectors. He also advises numerous international organizations and funds, with a special focus on the practical and responsible application of artificial intelligence in small and medium-sized enterprises across the Western Balkans region. Aleksandar Mastilović is a member of the World Business Angels Forum (WBAF) Committee for Science, Technology and Innovation, as well as a member of the IEEE Publications Board, the world’s largest professional organization in the field of electrical and electronics engineering. He is the recipient of several prestigious international awards, including the IEEE Communications Society Global Top 30 Award, a TEDx speaker, and an author of scientific papers and publications in the fields of cybersecurity and the Industrial Internet of Things (IoT). His professional focus is on connecting the public sector, engineers, legal professionals, and economists to develop sustainable, secure, and regulatory-compliant technological solutions—particularly in the areas of artificial intelligence and blockchain—while preserving space for innovation and entrepreneurship.
Brankica Janković
Former Commissioner for the Protection of Equality of Serbia.
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Biography
Brankica Janković is the former Commissioner for the Protection of Equality of the Republic of Serbia. She was first appointed to this position in May 2015 and reappointed in November 2020. She is an expert in the fields of social protection, protection of women, the elderly, children’s rights, public administration, and security. Previously, she served as State Secretary at the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Policy (2012–2014), where she led the system of social and family-legal protection and participated in the development of public policies in the areas of labour and employment. She has actively contributed to the drafting of numerous national strategic and legal documents, as well as to regional and international initiatives in the fields of equality, social policy, and the protection of human rights.
What did Congress participants gain?
Edukacija
Business opportunities
We developed a B2B networking app for Congress participants, featuring all registered attendees. Participants were able to easily find colleagues from specific companies or institutions and schedule meetings with them.
- In this way, the Congress increased interaction among participants and enabled them to connect with a wide network of professionals.
Društveni program
- Concert — a musical event in a relaxed atmosphere following the professional part of the program.
- Exploring the beauty of Bled, one of the most attractive destinations in Slovenia — combining professional development with an unforgettable experience in a stunning setting.
What did the lectures and workshops look like?
Through expert lectures and interactive workshops, participants gained practical knowledge on how to align their operations with the AI Act and GDPR, with a strong focus on real-world business and institutional applications.
Special attention was given to topics such as personal data protection, AI regulation, privacy and digital rights, as well as data security in today’s digital environment.
The focus was not on theory — but on real challenges already faced by legal professionals, companies, and institutions, along with solutions that can be directly applied in practice.
Participants had the opportunity to explore the latest regulatory frameworks, including the AI Act and GDPR, as well as the challenges arising from automated decision-making and the use of artificial intelligence in legal practice.
Through workshops and panel discussions, key questions were addressed — how to use artificial intelligence in everyday work, how to accelerate processes within institutions and companies, and how to ensure full compliance with legal and ethical standards.
What did the panel discussions look like?
The panel discussions focused on practical issues and challenges that legal professionals and institutions are already facing.
Panel discussion: AI Act and Data Protection
The discussion was centered on the implementation of the AI Act in relation to the existing data protection framework. Key topics included alignment with the GDPR, data processing through AI systems, and practical challenges arising in the work of institutions and companies.
Panel discussion: Artificial Intelligence — What Lies Ahead?
This discussion addressed the concrete directions of AI development and its impact on legal practice. The focus was on how AI is reshaping everyday legal work and what will be expected from legal professionals in the near future.
Who attended the Congress?
The Congress brought together professionals from various fields who work with artificial intelligence and data protection in their practice.
Among the participants were:
– Data Protection Officers (DPOs)
– AI and IT professionals
– Directors and senior managers from companies and institutions
– In-house legal professionals
– Attorneys, judges, and prosecutors
The Congress created a space for connecting different professions, enabling the exchange of experience and practical approaches in everyday work.
Take a look at photos from the 5th International Congress of Lawyers
