Syntec Numérique welcomes and encourages the opening up and sharing of data in the EU

Following on from the European Data Strategy, on Wednesday November 25 the European Commission presented a proposal for a regulation on the enabling framework for European data spaces. More commonly referred to as the “Data Governance Act”, the text notably provides for:

• Encourage the opening up, sharing and re-use of sensitive public sector data.
• Develop data altruism, i.e. collecting data for the public good.
• Enable the reuse of personal data by helping individuals exercise their rights under the RGPD and by helping new data players to emerge.
• Set up a European Data Innovation Board.
• Define the conditions for transferring data outside the EU.

Syntec Numérique welcomes the ambitions of the European Commission’s proposal, which will help to strengthen the data economy, to the benefit of both businesses and the public sector. The text represents an opportunity to relaunch European data spaces and stimulate EU-wide data sharing. The provisions encouraging the re-use of public data beyond current requirements are also promising. An implementing act establishing the list of high-value data will be adopted during 2021. These datasets have strong commercial potential and can accelerate the emergence of a wide variety of value-added information products and services. Syntec Numérique and its members are ready to contribute to the drafting of this key piece of legislation for the economy as a whole.

Businesses in all sectors operate both inside and outside the EU, circulating data securely in the course of their activities. In order to maintain their activities and remain competitive, they need to be able to rely on access to the best services available and the secure cross-border transfer of data. The draft regulation on data governance is an important element in meeting these needs, and in building confidence for increased participation in common European data spaces.

The European Union has succeeded in creating a clear regulatory framework that preserves its values, including in the processing of personal data. Syntec Numérique calls for the European approach to data to continue to be shaped by the principles of openness and the free flow of data. This new legislative framework should therefore not hinder companies’ activities and guarantee the free flow of data in compliance with the RGPD.