Proposal for a Regulation on European data governance (Data Governance Act)

Summary:

Legislative initiative tabled by the European Commission on 25 November 2020, aimed at facilitating data sharing across the European Union (EU) and between sectors.

Further information:

The proposed instrument aims to foster the availability of data for use by increasing trust in data intermediaries and by strengthening data-sharing mechanisms across the EU. The aims to address the following situations:

• Making public sector data available for re-use, in situations where such data is subject to rights of others;
• Sharing of data among businesses, against remuneration in any form;
• Allowing personal data to be used with the help of a personal data-sharing intermediary, designed to help individuals exercise their rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR);
• Allowing data use on altruistic grounds.

This is the first of a set of measures announced in the 2020 European Strategy for Data. It intends to offer an alternative European model to data handling practice of major tech platforms. The approach proposes a model based on the neutrality and transparency of data intermediaries.

The draft law was tabled by the European Commission on 25 November 2020. The Council of the European Union adopted its general approach to the text on 1 October 2021.

• Primary Source

Commentary and Analysis

Wikipedia: Data Governance Act https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_Governance_Act

EDRi: Resources, 25/11/2020: EU alphabet soup of digital acts: DSA, DMA and DGA https://edri.org/our-work/eu-alphabet-soup-of-digital-acts-dsa-dma-and-dga/

Bruegel: Opinion, 26/11/2020: A timid start for European Union data governance https://www.bruegel.org/2020/11/a-timid-start-for-european-union-data-governance/

DLA Piper: Blog, 27/11/2020: European Commission proposes new data governance measures for EU data sharing https://blogs.dlapiper.com/privacymatters/european-commission-proposes-new-data-governance-measures-for-eu-data-sharing/

HuntonAndrews Kurth: Privacy Blog, 02/12/2020: European Commission Publishes Draft Data Governance Act https://www.huntonprivacyblog.com/2020/12/02/european-commission-publishes-draft-data-governance-act/

IAPP: Privacy Tracker, 10/12/2020: Proposal for an EU Data Governance Act — a first analysis https://iapp.org/news/a/proposal-for-an-eu-data-governance-act-a-first-analysis/

Pinsent Masons: Out-Law Analysis, 16/12/2020: The EU's Data Governance Act just part of data sharing puzzle https://www.pinsentmasons.com/out-law/analysis/the-eus-data-governance-act-just-part-data-sharing-puzzle

Federation of German Industries: News, 18/12/2020: Data Governance Act: first step by the EU Commission to strengthen European data ecosystems https://english.bdi.eu/article/news/data-governance-act-first-push-by-the-eu-commission-to-strengthen-european-data-ecosystems/

Spanish Government: Aporta Initiative: Blog, 22/12/2020: Is the European proposal on data governance a step forward? https://datos.gob.es/en/blog/european-proposal-data-governance-step-forward

Orgalim: Position Papers, 29/01/2021: Digital Transformation: Orgalim comments on the Data Governance Act https://orgalim.eu/position-papers/digital-transformation-orgalim-comments-data-governance-act

European Banking Federation: Consultation, 01/02/2021: European Commission’s consultation on the Data Governance Act: EBF Response https://www.ebf.eu/innovation-cybersecurity/european-commissions-consultation-on-the-data-governance-act-ebf-response/

ITIF: Publications, 08/02/2021: Feedback on the Data Governance Act https://itif.org/publications/2021/02/08/feedback-data-governance-act

EPRS: Briefing, February 2021: Data Governance Act - Initial Appraisal of a European Commission Impact Assessment https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2021)662608

BEUC: Publications, 23/03/2021: Data Governance Act: BEUC Position Paper https://www.beuc.eu/publications/beuc-x-2021-026_data_governance_act_position_paper.pdf

EuroCloud: News, 06/04/2021: Does the draft Data Governance Act signal a more economic approach to personal data in the EU? https://eurocloud.org/news/article/does-the-draft-data-governance-act-signal-a-more-economic-approach-of-personal-data-in-the-eu/

DR2 Consultants: Blog, 12/04/2021: Data Governance Act: main elements and business implications https://dr2consultants.eu/data-governance-act-main-elements-and-business-implications/

Digital Europe: Policy Paper, 13/04/2021: DigitalEurope’s recommendations for the Data Governance Act https://www.digitaleurope.org/resources/digitaleuropes-recommendations-for-the-data-governance-act/

BusinessEurope: Publications, 19/04/2021: The Data Governance Act (DGA) - a BusinessEurope position paper https://www.businesseurope.eu/publications/data-governance-act-dga-businesseurope-position-paper

European Digital SME Alliance: News, 23/04/2021: Data Governance Act: DIGITAL SME welcomes Commission’s proposal to strengthen data sharing in the EU https://www.digitalsme.eu/data-governance-act/

Oxford University: Centre for Health, Law and Emerging Technologies: Blog, 05/05/2021: The proposed Data Governance Act— a New Age of Data Altruism? https://www.law.ox.ac.uk/helex/blog/2021/05/proposed-data-governance-act-new-age-data-altruism

Euronews: Global Conversation, 07/05/2021: Margrethe Vestager explains the EU's position in the global battle for data https://www.euronews.com/2021/05/07/margrethe-vestager-explains-the-eu-s-position-in-the-global-battle-for-data

European Law Blog, 10/06/2021: The Data Governance Act: New rules for international transfers of non-personal data held by the public sector https://europeanlawblog.eu/2021/06/10/the-data-governance-act-new-rules-for-international-transfers-of-non-personal-data-held-by-the-public-sector/

Future of Privacy Forum: Blog, 14/06/2021: ITPI Event Recap - The EU Data Strategy and the draft Data Governance Act https://fpf.org/blog/itpi-event-recap-the-eu-data-strategy-and-the-draft-data-governance-act/

EPRS: Briefing, June 2021: Data Governance Act https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2021)690674

KU Leuven: CITIP Blog, 24/06/2021: The Data Governance Act : new rules for international transfers of non-personal data held by the public sector https://www.law.kuleuven.be/citip/blog/the-data-governance-act-new-rules-for-international-transfers-of-non-personal-data-held-by-the-public-sector/

KU Leuven: CiTiP Blog, 03/08/2021: CiTiP White Paper on the Data Governance Act https://www.law.kuleuven.be/citip/blog/citip-white-paper-on-the-data-governance-act/

Wolters Kluwer: Copyright Blog, 18/08/2021: Please share nicely — From Database directive to Data (governance) acts http://copyrightblog.kluweriplaw.com/2021/08/18/please-share-nicely-from-database-directive-to-data-governance-acts/

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News

EurActiv: Topics: Data Governance Act https://www.euractiv.com/topics/data-governance-act/

EUObserver, 26/11/2020: EU unveils new data rules, including 'data-altruism' clause https://euobserver.com/science/150191

EurActiv, 01/10/2021: EU countries green light new data governance framework https://www.euractiv.com/section/data-protection/news/eu-counties-green-light-new-data-governance-framework/

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Official

EUR-LEX: SWD(2020)295: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Impact Assessment Report https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2020:295:FIN

EUR-LEX: SWD(2020)296: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Executive Summary of the Impact Assessment Report https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2020:296:FIN

European Parliament: Legislative Observatory: Procedure File for Proposal on European data governance (Data Governance Act) (2020/0340(COD)) https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2020/0340(COD)

European Parliament: Legislative Train Schedule: Proposal for a Regulation on European Data Governance https://www.europarl.europa.eu/legislative-train/theme-a-europe-fit-for-the-digital-age/file-data-governance-act

European Commission: Public Consultations: Data sharing in the EU – common European data spaces (new rules) https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12491-Data-sharing-in-the-EU-common-European-data-spaces-new-rules-_en

European Commission: Press Release, 25/11/2020: Commission proposes measures to boost data sharing and support European data spaces https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_20_2102

European Commission: Regulation on data governance – Questions and Answers (25 November 2020) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_20_2103

European Commission: Speech by Executive Vice-President Vestager at the Press Conference on the Data Governance Act and the Action Plan on Intellectual Property (25 November 2020) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_20_2210

European Parliament: Press Release, 16/07/2021: Data governance: new rules to boost data sharing across the EU https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20210708IPR08014/

S&D Group: Newsroom, 16/07/2021: S&Ds on Data Governance Act: “Monopolistic practices detrimental to citizens must be avoided” https://www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/newsroom/sds-data-governance-act-monopolistic-practices-detrimental-citizens-must-be-avoided

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 01/10/2021: EU looks to make data sharing easier: Council agrees position on Data Governance Act https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2021/10/01/eu-looks-to-make-data-sharing-easier-council-agrees-position-on-data-governance-act/

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