The public online consultation on Building a European Data Economy closed on the 26 April. You can access a short summary report of the consulation here. A full report will be published in due course.
Data has become an essential resource for economic growth, job creation and societal progress. Data analysis facilitates better decision-making, innovation and the prediction of future events. Europe aims to exploit this potential without infringing the rights and freedoms of people or damaging economic investments made into generating data. Within this context, the Commission aims to foster an efficient, competitive single market for data services including cloud-based ones. It needs to identify the legal, economic, and regulatory challenges, and to launch a discussion with stakeholders on future action.
On 10 January 2017, the Commission adopted the "Building the European Data Economy" package consisting of a Communication and a Staff Working Document. These policy documents give an overview of issues at stake, and of the context of this consultation. Respondents were invited to read them prior to completing the questionnaire.
Purpose of the consultation
The public consultation helps shape the future policy agenda on the European data economy. Results will feed into the Commission’s initiatives on data announced in the Mid-term review of the 2015 Digital Single Market strategy.
The objective of the consultation is to collect information on:
- whether and how local or national data localisation restrictions inhibit the free flow of data in Europe
- whether and to what extent digital non-personal machine-generated data are traded and exchanged
- the nature and magnitude of any barriers to accessing such data
- ways of tackling those barriers
- emerging Internet of Things and robotics liability challenges
- practices and issues relating to data portability, interoperability and standards.
Context
The "Building the European Data Economy" package addresses restrictions on the free flow of data, including legal barriers on the location of data for storage and/or processing purposes, and a series of emerging issues relating to data such as ownership, access, reuse, portability and liability.
While the questions on liability issues in this consultation are addressed in a data economy context, a separate consultation on the overall evaluation of the application of the Product Liability Directive (85/374/EEC) was launched.
This consultation does not cover any issues related to personal data protection. These are extensively regulated elsewhere, namely in the new EU data protection rules, as well as through the review of the ePrivacy Directive. Issues of access to and re-use of public sector information are excluded from this consultation because they will be tackled under the upcoming review of the Directive on the re-use of public sector information (2003/98/EC).
The Commission has already engaged in an extensive dialogue on the data economy with stakeholders, in the form of sector-specific (e.g. manufacturing and financial sectors) and cross-sector round-tables, workshops, conferences, bilateral meetings including targeted consultations of the Member States on data economy topics, and a public consultation in which the data economy was one of a broader range of topics.
Targeted respondents
This consultation targets:
- Businesses of all sizes
- Manufacturers and users of connected devices
- Operators and users of online platforms
- Data brokers
- Businesses commercialising data-based products and services
- Public authorities
- Non-governmental organisations
- Researcher and research organisations
- Consumers
As data collected by sensors are used in many areas, this consultation targets all sectors. Some of the sectors likely to be concerned are manufacturing, energy, automotive, health, consumer-facing commerce, Internet of Things (IoT), etc.
Consultation period
10 January 2017 – 26 April 2017
How to respond
The public online consultation on Building a European Data Economy closed on the 26 April.
Respondents could reply in any EU language.
Only responses received through the online questionnaire are considered for analysis. Questionnaires sent on paper are not analysed except those due to accessibility needs of persons with disabilities (see below).
The questionnaire is divided between 4 different sections:
- Localisation of data for storage and / or processing purposes
- Access to and re-use of non-personal data
- Liability
- Portability of non-personal data, interoperability and standards
While you may want to contribute to the entire questionnaire, it is also possible for you to contribute only to the sections (s) that is / are relevant to you or your organisation.
Accessibility for persons with disabilities
We accept questionnaires by e-mail or by post from people with disabilities and their representative organisations.
Please send either e-mail with your reply attached as Word, PDF or ODF document to CNECT-CONSULTATION-DATA-ECONOMY@ec.europa.eu
or write to us at:
European Commission, DG Communication Networks, Content & Technology
Unit G1 – Data Policy and Innovation
Euroforum Building
10 rue Robert Stumper
L-2557 Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Transparency
Please, state whether you are responding as an individual or representing the views of an organisation. We ask responding organisations to register in the Transparency Register.
We publish the submissions of non-registered organisations separately from those of registered ones.
Replies & next steps
A short summary report and anonymised responses to the consultation are available here.
Protection of personal data & privacy statement
Contact
CNECT-CONSULTATION-DATA-ECONOMY@ec.europa.eu
Stakeholder dialogue
Have a look at the workshops organised on how to build a European data economy.
Related content
Consultation results | 07 September 2017
This synopsis report presents the results of the consultation process on 'Building a European Data Economy'. It discusses the importance and timelines of the measures envisaged by the Commission to foster a thriving EU data economy.