Regulation (EU) 2018/1807 on a framework for the free flow of non-personal data in the European Union

Summary:

Regulation (EU) 2018/1807, which removes obstacles to the free movement of non-personal data. Following the formal signature by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union in November 2018, it was set to become effective in May 2019.

Summary:

The European Commission adopted a proposal on 13 September 2017 for a Regulation putting together a set of rules governing the free-flow of non-personal data in the European Union. Following the adoption of the respective negotiating positions, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union reached an informal agreeement on the draft law in June 2018. The Regulation was formally adopted on 14 November.

The aims of the draft law were to:

• Improve the mobility of non-personal data across borders in the single market;
• Ensure that the powers of competent authorities to request and receive access to data for regulatory purposes remain unaffected;
• Make it easier for professional users of data storage or other processing services to switch service providers and to port data, while not creating an excessive burden on service providers or distorting the market.

The intention to put forward a legislative proposal on this matter was shown in the mid-term review on the implementation of the Digital Single Market (DSM) strategy. The release of the proposed Regulation coincided with the annual State of the Union address.

• Primary Source

Commentary and Analysis

EPRS: Briefing, February 2018: Free flow of non-personal data in the European Union [Initial Appraisal of a European Commission Impact Assessment] http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2018/615647/EPRS_BRI(2018)615647_EN.pdf

KU Leuven: CITIP, April 2018: Work in progress: the proposal of the free flow of non-personal data regulation https://www.law.kuleuven.be/citip/blog/work-in-progress-the-proposal-of-the-free-flow-of-non-personal-data-regulation/

EPRS: Briefing, September 2018: Free flow of non-personal data in the European Union [EU Legislation in Progress] http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2017/614628/EPRS_BRI(2017)614628_EN.pdf

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News

EurActiv, 04.10.18: A ‘fifth freedom’ of the EU: MEPs back an end to data localisation https://www.euractiv.com/section/data-protection/news/a-fifth-freedom-of-the-eu-meps-back-end-of-data-localisation/

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Official

EUR-Lex: COM(2017)495: Proposal for a Regulation on a framework for the free flow of non-personal data in the European Union http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM:2017:495:FIN

EUR-Lex: SWD(2017)304: Impact assessment accompanying COM(2017)495 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=SWD:2017:304:FIN

EUR-Lex: SWD(2017)305: Executive summary of the impact assessment accompanying COM(2017)495 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=SWD:2017:305:FIN

European Parliament: Legislative Observatory: Free flow of non-personal data in the European Union http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil-mobile/fiche-procedure/2017/0228(COD)

European Parliament: Legislative Train: Free flow of non-personal data http://www.europarl.europa.eu/legislative-train/theme-connected-digital-single-market/file-jd-free-flow-of-non-personal-data

European Commission: Press Release, 19.09.17: A framework for the free flow of non-personal data in the EU http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-17-3190_en.htm

European Commission: Fact Sheet, 19/09/2017: A framework for the free flow of non-personal data in the EU [Q&A] http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-17-3191_en.htm

European Parliament: Press Release, 04/06/2018: No barriers to free flow of non-personal data in the EU http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20180604IPR04926/

European Commission: Press Release, 19/06/2018: EU negotiators reach a political agreement on free flow of non-personal data http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-18-4227_en.htm

European Commission: Fact Sheet, 21/06/2018: A framework for the free flow of non-personal data in the EU [Updated Q&A] http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-18-4249_en.htm

European Commission: Digital Single Market: Free flow of non-personal data https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/free-flow-non-personal-data

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 29/06/2018: EU to ban data localisation restrictions as ambassadors approve deal on free flow of data https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2018/06/29/eu-to-ban-data-localisation-restrictions-as-ambassadors-approve-deal-on-free-flow-of-data/

European Commission: Joint statement by Vice-President Ansip and Commissioner Gabriel on the European Parliament's vote on the new EU rules facilitating the free flow of non-personal data http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-18-6001_en.htm

EPP: Newsroom, 01.10.18: Free flow of non-personal data in the European Union https://www.eppgroup.eu/newsroom/news/free-flow-of-non-personal-data-in-the-european-union

S&D: Newsroom, 04.10.18: Free flow of non-personal data in the EU needs to be transparent and net neutral, say S&Ds https://www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/newsroom/free-flow-non-personal-data-eu-needs-be-transparent-and-net-neutral-say-sds

European Parliament: Press Release, 04.10.18: Free flow of non-personal data: Parliament approves EU’s fifth freedom http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20180926IPR14403/

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 09.11.18: Free flow of data: EU adopts new rules https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2018/11/09/free-flow-of-data-eu-adopts-new-rules/

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