03 December 2021

POLITICAL AGREEMENT ON EU DATA GOVERNANCE ACT

On 30 November, the trilogue negotiations on the European Data Governance Act concluded, paving the way for the final approval by the co-legislators. The political agreement reached by the European Parliament, Council and Commission is now subject to formal approval by the European Parliament and the Council.

The Data Governance Act, proposed by the European Commission in November 2020, will create the basis for a new European way of data governance in accordance with EU rules, such as personal data protection (GDPR), consumer protection and competition rules. The Regulation includes:

  • Measures to increase trust in data sharing as the lack of trust is currently a major obstacle and results in high costs;
  • New EU rules on neutrality to allow novel data intermediaries to function as trustworthy organisers of data sharing;
  • Measures to facilitate the reuse of certain data held by the public sector.
  • Tools to give Europeans control over the use of the data they generate by making it easier and safer for companies and individuals to voluntarily make their data available for the wider common good under clear conditions.

The Regulation shall allow for more data to be available and exchanged in the EU, across sectors and Member States. It shall boost data sharing and the development of common European data spaces, including on mobility, as announced in the European strategy for data.

The Commission will soon also propose a second major legislative initiative, the Data Act, to maximise the value of data for the economy and society. The Data Act aims to foster data sharing amongst businesses, and between businesses and governments. In addition to these two complementary initiatives, the Commission will further develop and fund European data spaces to pool data in key strategic sectors and areas of public interest.

Source: European Commission