keyboard_tab Digital Governance Act 2022/0868 EN

1.   Agreements or other practices pertaining to the re-use of data held by public sector bodies containing categories of data referred to in Article 3(1) which grant exclusive rights or which have as their objective or effect to grant such exclusive rights or to restrict the availability of data for re-use by entities other than the parties to such agreements or other practices shall be prohibited.

2.   By way of derogation from paragraph 1, an exclusive right to re-use data referred to in that paragraph may be granted to the extent necessary for the provision of a service or the supply of a product in the general interest that would not otherwise be possible.

3.   An exclusive right as referred to in paragraph 2 shall be granted through an administrative act or contractual arrangement in accordance with applicable Union or national law and in compliance with the principles of transparency, equal treatment and non-discrimination.

4.   The duration of an exclusive right to re-use data shall not exceed 12 months. Where a contract is concluded, the duration of the contract shall be the same as the duration of the exclusive right.

5.   The grant of an exclusive right pursuant to paragraphs 2, 3 and 4, including the reasons as to why it is necessary to grant such a right, shall be transparent and be made publicly available online, in a form that complies with relevant Union law on public procurement.

6.   Agreements or other practices falling within the scope of the prohibition referred to in paragraph 1 which do not meet the conditions laid down in paragraphs 2 and 3 and which were concluded before 23 June 2022 shall be terminated at the end of the applicable contract and in any event by 24 December 2024.

1.   Public sector bodies which are competent under national law to grant or refuse access for the re-use of one or more of the categories of data referred to in Article 3(1) shall make publicly available the conditions for allowing such re-use and the procedure to request the re-use via the single information point referred to in Article 8. Where they grant or refuse access for re-use, they may be assisted by the competent bodies referred to in Article 7(1).

Member States shall ensure that public sector bodies are equipped with the necessary resources to comply with this Article.

2.   Conditions for re-use shall be non-discriminatory, transparent, proportionate and objectively justified with regard to the categories of data and the purposes of re-use and the nature of the data for which re-use is allowed. Those conditions shall not be used to restrict competition.

3.   Public sector bodies shall, in accordance with Union and national law, ensure that the protected nature of data is preserved. They may provide for the following requirements:

4.   In the case of re-use allowed in accordance with paragraph 3, points (b) and (c), the public sector bodies shall impose conditions that preserve the integrity of the functioning of the technical systems of the secure processing environment used. The public_sector_body shall reserve the right to verify the process, the means and any results of processing of data undertaken by the re-user to preserve the integrity of the protection of the data and reserve the right to prohibit the use of results that contain information jeopardising the rights and interests of third parties. The decision to prohibit the use of the results shall be comprehensible and transparent to the re-user.

5.   Unless national law provides for specific safeguards on applicable confidentiality obligations relating to the re-use of data referred to in Article 3(1), the public_sector_body shall make the re-use of data provided in accordance with paragraph 3 of this Article conditional on the adherence by the re-user to a confidentiality obligation that prohibits the disclosure of any information that jeopardises the rights and interests of third parties that the re-user may have acquired despite the safeguards put in place. Re-users shall be prohibited from re-identifying any data subject to whom the data relates and shall take technical and operational measures to prevent re-identification and to notify any data breach resulting in the re-identification of the data subjects concerned to the public_sector_body. In the event of the unauthorised re-use of non-personal data, the re-user shall, without delay, where appropriate with the assistance of the public_sector_body, inform the legal persons whose rights and interests may be affected.

6.   Where the re-use of data cannot be allowed in accordance with the obligations laid down in paragraphs 3 and 4 of this Article and there is no legal basis for transmitting the data under Regulation (EU) 2016/679, the public_sector_body shall make best efforts, in accordance with Union and national law, to provide assistance to potential re-users in seeking consent of the data subjects or permission from the data holders whose rights and interests may be affected by such re-use, where it is feasible without a disproportionate burden on the public_sector_body. Where it provides such assistance, the public_sector_body may be assisted by the competent bodies referred to in Article 7(1).

7.   Re-use of data shall be allowed only in compliance with intellectual property rights. The right of the maker of a database as provided for in Article 7(1) of Directive 96/9/EC shall not be exercised by public sector bodies in order to prevent the re-use of data or to restrict re-use beyond the limits set by this Regulation.

8.   Where data requested is considered to be confidential, in accordance with Union or national law on commercial or statistical confidentiality, the public sector bodies shall ensure that the confidential data is not disclosed as a result of allowing re-use, unless such re-use is allowed in accordance with paragraph 6.

9.   Where a re-user intends to transfer non-personal data protected on the grounds set out in Article 3(1) to a third country, it shall inform the public_sector_body of its intention to transfer such data and the purpose of such transfer at the time of requesting the re-use of such data. In the case of re-use in accordance with paragraph 6 of this Article, the re-user shall, where appropriate with the assistance of the public_sector_body, inform the legal person whose rights and interests may be affected of that intention, purpose and the appropriate safeguards. The public_sector_body shall not allow the re-use unless the legal person gives permission for the transfer.

10.   Public sector bodies shall transmit non-personal confidential data or data protected by intellectual property rights to a re-user which intends to transfer those data to a third country other than a country designated in accordance with paragraph 12 only if the re-user contractually commits to:

11.   Public sector bodies shall, where relevant and to the extent of their capabilities, provide guidance and assistance to re-users in complying with the obligations referred to in paragraph 10 of this Article.

In order to assist public sector bodies and re-users, the Commission may adopt implementing acts establishing model contractual clauses for complying with the obligations referred to in paragraph 10 of this Article. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 33(3).

12.   Where justified because of the substantial number of requests across the Union concerning the re-use of non-personal data in specific third countries, the Commission may adopt implementing acts declaring that the legal, supervisory and enforcement arrangements of a third country:

Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 33(3).

13.   Specific Union legislative acts may deem certain non-personal data categories held by public sector bodies to be highly sensitive for the purposes of this Article where their transfer to third countries may put at risk Union public policy objectives, such as safety and public health or may lead to the risk of re-identification of non-personal, anonymised data. Where such an act is adopted, the Commission shall adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 32 supplementing this Regulation by laying down special conditions applicable to the transfers of such data to third countries.

Those special conditions shall be based on the nature of the non-personal data categories identified in the specific Union legislative act and on the grounds for deeming those categories to be highly sensitive, taking into account the risks of re-identification of non-personal, anonymised data. They shall be non-discriminatory and limited to what is necessary to achieve the Union public policy objectives identified in that act, in accordance with the Union’s international obligations.

If required by specific Union legislative acts as referred to in the first subparagraph, such special conditions may include terms applicable for the transfer or technical arrangements in this regard, limitations with regard to the re-use of data in third countries or categories of persons entitled to transfer such data to third countries or, in exceptional cases, restrictions with regard to transfers to third countries.

14.   The natural or legal person to which the right to re-use non-personal data was granted may transfer the data only to those third countries for which the requirements in paragraphs 10, 12 and 13 are met.

1.   Public sector bodies which allow re-use of the categories of data referred to in Article 3(1) may charge fees for allowing the re-use of such data.

2.   Any fees charged pursuant to paragraph 1 shall be transparent, non-discriminatory, proportionate and objectively justified and shall not restrict competition.

3.   Public sector bodies shall ensure that any fees can also be paid online through widely available cross-border payment services, without discrimination based on the place of establishment of the payment service provider, the place of issue of the payment instrument or the location of the payment account within the Union.

4.   Where public sector bodies charge fees, they shall take measures to provide incentives for the re-use of the categories of data referred to in Article 3(1) for non-commercial purposes, such as scientific research purposes, and by SMEs and start-ups in accordance with State aid rules. In that regard, public sector bodies may also make the data available at a discounted fee or free of charge, in particular to SMEs and start-ups, civil society and educational establishments. To that end, public sector bodies may establish a list of categories of re-users to which data for re-use is made available at a discounted fee or free of charge. That list, together with the criteria used to establish it, shall be made public.

5.   Any fees shall be derived from the costs related to conducting the procedure for requests for the re-use of the categories of data referred to in Article 3(1) and limited to the necessary costs in relation to:

6.   The criteria and methodology for calculating fees shall be laid down by the Member States and published. The public_sector_body shall publish a description of the main categories of costs and the rules used for the allocation of costs.

1.   For the purpose of carrying out the tasks referred to in this Article, each Member State shall designate one or more competent bodies, which may be competent for particular sectors, to assist the public sector bodies which grant or refuse access for the re-use of the categories of data referred to in Article 3(1). Member States may either establish one or more new competent bodies or rely on existing public sector bodies or on internal services of public sector bodies that fulfil the conditions laid down in this Regulation.

2.   The competent bodies may be empowered to grant access for the re-use of the categories of data referred to in Article 3(1) pursuant to Union or national law which provides for such access to be granted. Where they grant or refuse access for the re-use, Articles 4, 5, 6 and 9 shall apply to those competent bodies.

3.   The competent bodies shall have adequate legal, financial, technical and human resources to carry out the tasks assigned to them, including the necessary technical knowledge to be able to comply with relevant Union or national law concerning the access regimes for the categories of data referred to in Article 3(1).

4.   The assistance provided for in paragraph 1 shall include, where necessary:

5.   Each Member State shall notify the Commission of the identity of the competent bodies designated pursuant to paragraph 1 by 24 September 2023. Each Member State shall also notify the Commission of any subsequent change to the identity of those competent bodies.

1.   Unless shorter time limits have been established in accordance with national law, the competent public sector bodies or the competent bodies referred to in Article 7(1) shall adopt a decision on the request for the re-use of the categories of data referred to in Article 3(1) within two months of the date of receipt of the request.

In the case of exceptionally extensive and complex requests for re-use, that two-month period may be extended by up to 30 days. In such cases the competent public sector bodies or the competent bodies referred to in Article 7(1) shall notify the applicant as soon as possible that more time is needed for conducting the procedure, together with the reasons for the delay.

2.   Any natural or legal person directly affected by a decision as referred to in paragraph 1 shall have an effective right of redress in the Member State where the relevant body is located. Such a right of redress shall be laid down in national law and shall include the possibility of review by an impartial body with the appropriate expertise, such as the national competition authority, the relevant access-to-documents authority, the supervisory authority established in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 or a national judicial authority, whose decisions are binding upon the public_sector_body or the competent body concerned.

1.   Any data intermediation services provider who intends to provide the data intermediation services referred to in Article 10 shall submit a notification to the competent authority for data intermediation services.

2.   For the purposes of this Regulation, a data intermediation services provider with establishments in more than one Member State shall be deemed to be under the jurisdiction of the Member State in which it has its main_establishment, without prejudice to Union law regulating cross-border actions for damages and related proceedings.

3.   A data intermediation services provider that is not established in the Union, but which offers the data intermediation services referred to in Article 10 within the Union, shall designate a legal_representative in one of the Member States in which those services are offered.

For the purpose of ensuring compliance with this Regulation, the legal_representative shall be mandated by the data intermediation services provider to be addressed in addition to or instead of it by competent authorities for data intermediation services or data subjects and data holders, with regard to all issues related to the data intermediation services provided. The legal_representative shall cooperate with and comprehensively demonstrate to the competent authorities for data intermediation services, upon request, the actions taken and provisions put in place by the data intermediation services provider to ensure compliance with this Regulation.

The data intermediation services provider shall be deemed to be under the jurisdiction of the Member State in which the legal_representative is located. The designation of a legal_representative by the data intermediation services provider shall be without prejudice to any legal actions which could be initiated against the data intermediation services provider.

4.   After having submitted a notification in accordance with paragraph 1, the data intermediation services provider may start the activity subject to the conditions laid down in this Chapter.

5.   The notification referred to in paragraph 1 shall entitle the data intermediation services provider to provide data intermediation services in all Member States.

6.   The notification referred to in paragraph 1 shall include the following information:

7.   The competent authority for data intermediation services shall ensure that the notification procedure is non-discriminatory and does not distort the competition.

8.   At the request of the data intermediation services provider, the competent authority for data intermediation services shall, within one week of a duly and fully completed notification, issue a standardised declaration, confirming that the data intermediation services provider has submitted the notification referred to in paragraph 1 and that the notification contains the information referred to in paragraph 6.

9.   At the request of the data intermediation services provider, the competent authority for data intermediation services shall confirm that the data intermediation services provider complies with this Article and Article 12. Upon receipt of such a confirmation, that data intermediation services provider may use the label ‘ data intermediation services provider recognised in the Union’ in its written and spoken communication, as well as a common logo.

In order to ensure that data intermediation services providers recognised in the Union are easily identifiable throughout the Union, the Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, establish a design for the common logo. Data intermediation services providers recognised in the Union shall display the common logo clearly on every online and offline publication that relates to their data intermediation activities.

Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 33(2).

10.   The competent authority for data intermediation services shall notify the Commission of each new notification by electronic means without delay. The Commission shall keep and regularly update a public register of all data intermediation services providers providing their services in the Union. The information referred to in paragraph 6, points (a), (b), (c), (d), (f) and (g), shall be published in the public register.

11.   The competent authority for data intermediation services may charge fees for the notification in accordance with national law. Such fees shall be proportionate and objective and be based on the administrative costs related to the monitoring of compliance and other market control activities of the competent authority for data intermediation services in relation to notifications of data intermediation services providers. In the case of SMEs and start-ups, the competent authority for data intermediation services may charge a discounted fee or waive the fee.

12.   Data intermediation services providers shall notify the competent authority for data intermediation services of any changes to the information provided pursuant to paragraph 6 within 14 days of the date of the change.

13.   Where a data intermediation services provider ceases its activities, it shall notify the relevant competent authority for data intermediation services determined pursuant to paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 within 15 days.

14.   The competent authority for data intermediation services shall notify the Commission of each notification referred to in paragraphs 12 and 13 by electronic means without delay. The Commission shall update the public register of the data intermediation services providers in the Union accordingly.

1.   The competent authorities for data intermediation services shall monitor and supervise compliance of data intermediation services providers with the requirements of this Chapter. The competent authorities for data intermediation services may also monitor and supervise the compliance of data intermediation services providers, on the basis of a request by a natural or legal person.

2.   The competent authorities for data intermediation services shall have the power to request from data intermediation services providers or their legal_representatives all the information that is necessary to verify compliance with the requirements of this Chapter. Any request for information shall be proportionate to the performance of the task and shall be reasoned.

3.   Where the competent authority for data intermediation services finds that a data intermediation services provider does not comply with one or more of the requirements of this Chapter, it shall notify that data intermediation services provider of those findings and give it the opportunity to state its views, within 30 days of the receipt of the notification.

4.   The competent authority for data intermediation services shall have the power to require the cessation of the infringement referred to in paragraph 3 within a reasonable time limit or immediately in the case of a serious infringement and shall take appropriate and proportionate measures with the aim of ensuring compliance. In that regard, the competent authority for data intermediation services shall have the power, where appropriate:

The competent authority for data intermediation services shall request the Commission to remove the data intermediation services provider from the register of data intermediation services providers once it has ordered the cessation of the provision of the data intermediation service in accordance with the first subparagraph, point (c).

If a data intermediation services provider remedies infringements, that data intermediation services provider shall re-notify the competent authority for data intermediation services. The competent authority for data intermediation services shall notify the Commission of each new re-notification.

5.   Where a data intermediation services provider that is not established in the Union fails to designate a legal_representative or the legal_representative fails, upon request of the competent authority for data intermediation services, to provide the necessary information that comprehensively demonstrates compliance with this Regulation, the competent authority for data intermediation services shall have the power to postpone the commencement of or to suspend the provision of the data intermediation service until the legal_representative is designated or the necessary information is provided.

6.   The competent authorities for data intermediation services shall notify the data intermediation services provider concerned of the measures imposed pursuant to paragraphs 4 and 5 and the reasons on which they are based, as well as the necessary steps to be taken to rectify the relevant shortcomings, without delay, and shall stipulate a reasonable period, which shall not be longer than 30 days, for the data intermediation services provider to comply with those measures.

7.   If a data intermediation services provider has its main_establishment or its legal_representative in a Member State but provides services in other Member States, the competent authority for data intermediation services of the Member State of the main_establishment or where the legal_representative is located and the competent authorities for data intermediation services of those other Member States shall cooperate and assist each other. Such assistance and cooperation may cover information exchanges between the competent authorities for data intermediation services concerned for the purposes of their tasks under this Regulation and reasoned requests to take the measures referred to in this Article.

Where a competent authority for data intermediation services in one Member State requests assistance from a competent authority for data intermediation services in another Member State, it shall submit a reasoned request. The competent authority for data intermediation services shall, upon such a request, provide a response without delay and within a timeframe proportionate to the urgency of the request.

Any information exchanged in the context of assistance requested and provided under this paragraph shall be used only in respect of the matter for which it was requested.

1.   An entity which meets the requirements of Article 18 may submit an application for registration in the public national register of recognised data altruism organisations in the Member State in which it is established.

2.   An entity which meets the requirements of Article 18 and has establishments in more than one Member State may submit an application for registration in the public national register of recognised data altruism organisations in the Member State in which it has its main_establishment.

3.   An entity which meets the requirements of Article 18 but which is not established in the Union shall designate a legal_representative in one of the Member States in which the data altruism services are offered.

For the purpose of ensuring compliance with this Regulation, the legal_representative shall be mandated by the entity to be addressed in addition to or instead of it by competent authorities for the registration of data altruism organisations or data subjects and data holders, with regard to all issues related to that entity. The legal_representative shall cooperate with and comprehensively demonstrate to the competent authorities for the registration of data altruism organisations, upon request, the actions taken and provisions put in place by the entity to ensure compliance with this Regulation.

The entity shall be deemed to be under the jurisdiction of the Member State in which the legal_representative is located. Such an entity may submit an application for registration in the public national register of recognised data altruism organisations in that Member State. The designation of a legal_representative by the entity shall be without prejudice to any legal actions which could be initiated against the entity.

4.   Applications for registration referred to in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 shall contain the following information:

5.   Where the entity has submitted all necessary information pursuant to paragraph 4 and after the competent authority for the registration of data altruism organisations has evaluated the application for registration and found that the entity complies with the requirements of Article 18, it shall register the entity in the public national register of recognised data altruism organisations within 12 weeks after the receipt of the application for registration. The registration shall be valid in all Member States.

The competent authority for the registration of data altruism organisations shall notify the Commission of any registration. The Commission shall include that registration in the public Union register of recognised data altruism organisations.

6.   The information referred to in paragraph 4, points (a), (b), (f), (g) and (h), shall be published in the relevant public national register of recognised data altruism organisations.

7.   A recognised data altruism organisation shall notify the relevant competent authority for the registration of data altruism organisations of any changes to the information provided pursuant to paragraph 4 within 14 days of the date of the change.

The competent authority for the registration of data altruism organisations shall notify the Commission of each such notification by electronic means without delay. Based on such a notification, the Commission shall update the public Union register of recognised data altruism organisations without delay.

1.   The Commission shall adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 32, supplementing this Regulation by establishing a rulebook laying down:

2.   The rulebook referred to in paragraph 1 shall be prepared in close cooperation with data altruism organisations and relevant stakeholders.

1.   The competent authorities for the registration of data altruism organisations shall monitor and supervise compliance of recognised data altruism organisations with the requirements laid down in this Chapter. The competent authority for the registration of data altruism organisations may also monitor and supervise the compliance of such recognised data altruism organisations, on the basis of a request by a natural or legal person.

2.   The competent authorities for the registration of data altruism organisations shall have the power to request information from recognised data altruism organisations that is necessary to verify compliance with the requirements of this Chapter. Any request for information shall be proportionate to the performance of the task and shall be reasoned.

3.   Where the competent authority for the registration of data altruism organisations finds that a recognised data altruism organisation does not comply with one or more of the requirements of this Chapter, it shall notify the recognised data altruism organisation of those findings and give it the opportunity to state its views within 30 days of the receipt of the notification.

4.   The competent authority for the registration of data altruism organisations shall have the power to require the cessation of the infringement referred to in paragraph 3 either immediately or within a reasonable time limit and shall take appropriate and proportionate measures with the aim of ensuring compliance.

5.   If a recognised data altruism organisation does not comply with one or more of the requirements of this Chapter even after having been notified in accordance with paragraph 3 by the competent authority for the registration of data altruism organisations, that recognised data altruism organisation shall:

Any decision revoking the right to use the label ‘ data altruism organisation recognised in the Union’ under the first subparagraph, point (a), shall be made public by the competent authority for the registration of data altruism organisations.

6.   If a recognised data altruism organisation has its main_establishment or its legal_representative in a Member State but is active in other Member States, the competent authority for the registration of data altruism organisations of the Member State of the main_establishment or where the legal_representative is located and the competent authorities for the registration of data altruism organisations of those other Member States shall cooperate and assist each other. Such assistance and cooperation may cover information exchanges between the competent authorities for the registration of data altruism organisations concerned for the purposes of their tasks under this Regulation and reasoned requests to take the measures referred to in this Article.

Where a competent authority for the registration of data altruism organisations in one Member State requests assistance from a competent authority for the registration of data altruism organisations in another Member State, it shall submit a reasoned request. The competent authority for the registration of data altruism organisations shall, upon such a request, provide a response without delay and within a timeframe proportionate to the urgency of the request.

Any information exchanged in the context of assistance requested and provided under this paragraph shall be used only in respect of the matter for which it was requested.

1.   The public_sector_body, the natural or legal person to which the right to re-use data was granted under Chapter II, the data intermediation services provider or the recognised data altruism organisation shall take all reasonable technical, legal and organisational measures, including contractual arrangements, in order to prevent international transfer or governmental access to non-personal data held in the Union where such transfer or access would create a conflict with Union law or the national law of the relevant Member State, without prejudice to paragraph 2 or 3.

2.   Any decision or judgment of a third-country court or tribunal and any decision of a third-country administrative authority requiring a public_sector_body, a natural or legal person to which the right to re-use data was granted under Chapter II, a data intermediation services provider or recognised data altruism organisation to transfer or give access to non-personal data within the scope of this Regulation held in the Union shall be recognised or enforceable in any manner only if based on an international agreement, such as a mutual legal assistance treaty, in force between the requesting third country and the Union or any such agreement between the requesting third country and a Member State.

3.   In the absence of an international agreement as referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article, where a public_sector_body, a natural or legal person to which the right to re-use data was granted under Chapter II, a data intermediation services provider or recognised data altruism organisation is the addressee of a decision or judgment of a third-country court or tribunal or a decision of a third-country administrative authority to transfer or give access to non-personal data within the scope of this Regulation held in the Union and compliance with such a decision would risk putting the addressee in conflict with Union law or with the national law of the relevant Member State, transfer to or access to such data by that third-country authority shall take place only where:

4.   If the conditions laid down in paragraph 2 or 3 are met, the public_sector_body, the natural or legal person to which the right to re-use data was granted under Chapter II, the data intermediation services provider or the recognised data altruism organisation shall provide the minimum amount of data permissible in response to a request, based on a reasonable interpretation of the request.

5.   The public_sector_body, the natural or legal person to which the right to re-use data was granted under Chapter II, the data intermediation services provider and the recognised data altruism organisation shall inform the data holder about the existence of a request of a third-country administrative authority to access its data before complying with that request, except where the request serves law enforcement purposes and for as long as this is necessary to preserve the effectiveness of the law enforcement activity.