Last updated: March 2026 Version: 1.0
Who we are
THE PERFECT EUROPEAN is an independent blog and newsletter published at theperfecteuropean.eu. The data controller responsible for this website is:
Miguel Rodrigues Paulo Brussels, Belgium hello@theperfecteuropean.eu
When this policy refers to “we,” “us,” or “our,” it refers to the above individual acting as data controller. When it refers to “you,” it refers to any person who visits this website, submits a comment, or contacts us directly.
What this policy covers
This policy explains what personal data we collect when you use theperfecteuropean.eu, why we collect it, how long we keep it, and what rights you have over it under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) — Regulation (EU) 2016/679.
We have written it to be read, not merely consulted. If something is unclear, write to us at [CONTACT EMAIL] and we will explain it.
The data we collect and why
We collect personal data in three ways on this site. Nothing is collected that is not necessary for the stated purpose.
1 — Website analytics (Google Analytics)
What we collect When you visit the site, Google Analytics collects information about your visit: pages viewed, time spent, approximate geographic location (country and city level), device type, browser, and how you arrived at the site (search, direct, referral). This data is associated with a cookie placed on your device.
Why we collect it To understand which content is read and how the site is used — so we can produce better content and improve the reading experience. We do not use this data for advertising, profiling, or any purpose beyond aggregate editorial insight.
Legal basis Consent — Article 6(1)(a) GDPR. Analytics only activates if you accept cookies when prompted by the consent banner (managed by Complianz). If you decline, no analytics data is collected.
Who processes it Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland. Google may transfer data to the United States under Standard Contractual Clauses. For Google’s privacy terms, see: policies.google.com/privacy.
How long we keep it We have set data retention in Google Analytics to 14 months. After this period, data is automatically deleted from Google’s servers.
How to opt out Withdraw consent at any time via the cookie settings link in the site footer. You may also install the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on: tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.
2 — WordPress comments
What we collect When you leave a comment on a post, WordPress collects your name, email address, and the content of your comment. Your IP address and browser user agent string are also recorded by WordPress for spam detection. If you choose to save your details for future comments, a cookie is set on your device.
Why we collect it To publish your comment and to detect and prevent spam. Your email address is never published on the site — it is visible only to the site administrator.
Legal basis Legitimate interest — Article 6(1)(f) GDPR. Publishing reader comments is a core editorial function of the site, and collecting a valid email address is a reasonable and proportionate measure against spam and abuse. You are not required to comment; if you do, you are choosing to participate in a public discussion.
Who processes it Data is stored on our WordPress hosting server. We use Akismet (Automattic Inc.) for spam filtering. Akismet may process your comment data to determine whether it is spam. For Akismet’s privacy policy, see: akismet.com/privacy.
How long we keep it Approved comments are kept for as long as the post they relate to remains published. If you request deletion of your comment, we will remove it within 30 days. Spam comments are deleted automatically within 30 days. IP addresses logged by WordPress are retained for 30 days.
How to request deletion Write to [CONTACT EMAIL] with the URL of the post and the name used when commenting. We will confirm deletion within 30 days.
3 — Contact form and direct email
What we collect When you use the contact form or write to us directly, we collect your name, email address, and the content of your message.
Why we collect it To read and respond to your message. Nothing else.
Legal basis Legitimate interest — Article 6(1)(f) GDPR. Responding to direct correspondence is a straightforward and proportionate use of contact information.
Who processes it Messages sent via the contact form are delivered to our email inbox. No third-party CRM or marketing platform is used. We do not add contact form correspondents to any mailing list.
How long we keep it We retain email correspondence for up to 24 months. Messages that require no ongoing action are deleted sooner.
The newsletter
The newsletter is managed via MailPoet (Wysija SPRL, Rue de la Croix de Pierre 39, 1060 Brussels, Belgium). As a Belgian company, MailPoet processes subscriber data within the European Union and is subject to the GDPR.
If you subscribe to the newsletter, your email address and subscription date are stored by MailPoet on our WordPress installation. We do not share subscriber data with any third party. We use subscriber data only to send the newsletter and to measure basic delivery statistics — open rate and click rate — in aggregate.
You may unsubscribe at any time via the unsubscribe link in any edition. Your data will be deleted from our mailing list within 30 days of unsubscription.
Cookies
This site uses the following cookies:
| Cookie | Purpose | Duration | Provider |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complianz consent cookie | Records your cookie preferences | 365 days | Complianz |
| Google Analytics (_ga) | Distinguishes unique visitors | 2 years | |
| Google Analytics (ga*) | Maintains session state | 2 years | |
| WordPress comment author | Saves your name/email for future comments | 347 days | WordPress |
| WordPress comment cookies | Records that you have left a comment | 347 days | WordPress |
Google Analytics cookies are only set if you consent. WordPress comment cookies are only set if you choose to save your details when commenting.
A full and current list of cookies in use is maintained by Complianz and is accessible via the cookie settings link in the site footer.
Your rights under GDPR
As a resident of the European Union — or anywhere the GDPR applies — you have the following rights regarding your personal data:
Right of access — you may request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
Right to rectification — you may ask us to correct inaccurate data.
Right to erasure — you may ask us to delete your personal data, subject to any legal obligation to retain it.
Right to restriction — you may ask us to restrict processing of your data in certain circumstances.
Right to object — you may object to processing based on legitimate interest. We will consider and respond to your objection.
Right to withdraw consent — where processing is based on consent (analytics cookies), you may withdraw it at any time without affecting the lawfulness of prior processing.
Right to lodge a complaint — if you believe we have handled your data unlawfully, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Belgian Data Protection Authority:
Autorité de protection des données (APD) Rue de la Presse 35, 1000 Brussels www.dataprotectionauthority.be
To exercise any of these rights, write to [CONTACT EMAIL]. We will respond within 30 days. We will not charge a fee for reasonable requests.
Data security
We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorised access, loss, or disclosure. These include:
- HTTPS encryption across the entire site (TLS)
- Access to WordPress admin restricted by strong credentials
- Hosting on a server with regular security updates
No method of transmission over the internet is entirely secure. If you have concerns about the security of data you have shared with us, write to hello@theperfecteuropean.eu.
International transfers
Google Analytics may transfer data to servers in the United States. Google relies on Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) as the legal mechanism for such transfers, in accordance with GDPR Article 46. Substack is a US-based company and processes subscriber data under equivalent SCCs.
We do not otherwise transfer personal data outside the European Economic Area.
Children
This site is not directed at children under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal data from anyone under 16. If you believe a child has submitted data to this site, please contact us at hello@theperfecteuropean.eu and we will delete it promptly.
Changes to this policy
We will update this policy when our data practices change — when new tools are added, existing tools are removed, or the law requires it. The date at the top of this page reflects the most recent revision. Significant changes will be noted in the newsletter.
We will not retroactively reduce your rights under this policy without explicit notice.
Contact
For any question about this policy or your personal data:
Miguel Rodrigues Paulo hello@theperfecteuropean.eu Brussels, Belgium
We aim to respond within 30 days. For complex requests, we will acknowledge receipt promptly and give a realistic timeline.
This privacy policy was last reviewed in March 2026. It should be reviewed again when Complianz is installed and has completed its cookie scan, and whenever a new data-collecting tool or service is added to the site.
THE PERFECT EUROPEAN — theperfecteuropean.eu