18 EU Countries Face Action for Data Governance Act Failures
The European Commission has initiated infringement procedures against 18 Member States for failing to designate responsible authorities to implement the Data Governance Act (DGA) or to prove that existing authorities are empowered to perform the required tasks. The Member States in question include Belgium, Czechia, Germany, Estonia, Greece, France, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Sweden. Each country received a letter of formal notice and has two months to respond and address the identified shortcomings.
The Data Governance Act, applicable since September 24, 2023, aims to facilitate data sharing across sectors and EU countries, benefiting both citizens and businesses. It establishes rules ensuring the neutrality of data intermediaries and mandates that these intermediaries be registered and identifiable by a common EU logo. The Act also promotes the reuse of certain public sector data and encourages voluntary data sharing through data altruism, allowing citizens to make their data available for the common good, such as in medical research projects.
Data altruism organizations can opt to be included in a public register and use the EU logo, provided they operate on a not-for-profit basis and meet transparency and safeguard requirements to protect the rights of data-sharing citizens and companies. The responsible authorities are tasked with registering these organizations and monitoring compliance with data intermediation services. The Commission’s infringement procedures underscore the importance of these responsibilities and the need for Member States to comply promptly.
Failure to respond satisfactorily to the Commission’s letter of formal notice within the two-month timeframe may result in the issuance of a reasoned opinion. This step highlights the Commission’s commitment to ensuring the effective implementation of the Data Governance Act and fostering a trustworthy environment for data sharing across the EU.
Source: Commission calls on 18 Member States to comply with the EU Data Governance Act
