keyboard_tab Digital Governance Act 2022/0868 EN

1.   This Chapter applies to data held by public sector bodies which are protected on grounds of:

2.   This Chapter does not apply to:

3.   This Chapter is without prejudice to:

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.   Member States shall ensure that all relevant information concerning the application of Articles 5 and 6 is available and easily accessible through a single information point. Member States shall establish a new body or designate an existing body or structure as the single information point. The single information point may be linked to sectoral, regional or local information points. The functions of the single information point may be automated provided that the public_sector_body ensures adequate support.

2.   The single information point shall be competent to receive enquiries or requests for the re-use of the categories of data referred to in Article 3(1) and shall transmit them, where possible and appropriate by automated means, to the competent public sector bodies, or the competent bodies referred to in Article 7(1), where relevant. The single information point shall make available by electronic means a searchable asset list containing an overview of all available data resources including, where relevant, those data resources that are available at sectoral, regional or local information points, with relevant information describing the available data, including at least the data format and size and the conditions for their  re-use.

3.   The single information point may establish a separate, simplified and well-documented information channel for SMEs and start-ups, addressing their needs and capabilities in requesting the re-use of the categories of data referred to in Article 3(1).

4.   The Commission shall establish a European single access point offering a searchable electronic register of data available in the national single information points and further information on how to request data via those national single information points.

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.   Each Member State shall designate one or more competent authorities to carry out the tasks related to the notification procedure for data intermediation services and shall notify the Commission of the identity of those competent authorities by 24 September 2023. Each Member State shall also notify the Commission of any subsequent change to the identity of those competent authorities.

2.   The competent authorities for data intermediation services shall comply with the requirements set out in Article 26.

3.   The powers of the competent authorities for data intermediation services are without prejudice to the powers of the data protection authorities, national competition authorities, authorities in charge of cybersecurity and other relevant sectoral authorities. In accordance with their respective competences under Union and national law, those authorities shall establish strong cooperation and exchange information as is necessary for the exercise of their tasks in relation to data intermediation services providers, and shall aim to achieve consistency in the decisions taken in applying this Regulation.

1.   Each Member State shall designate one or more competent authorities responsible for its public national register of recognised data altruism organisations.

The competent authorities for the registration of data altruism organisations shall comply with the requirements set out in Article 26.

2.   Each Member State shall notify the Commission of the identity of their competent authorities for the registration of data altruism organisations by 24 September 2023. Each Member State shall also notify the Commission of any subsequent change to the identity of those competent authorities.

3.   The competent authority for the registration of data altruism organisations of a Member State shall undertake its tasks in cooperation with the relevant data protection authority, where such tasks are related to processing of personal data, and with relevant sectoral authorities of that Member State.

1.   In order to facilitate the collection of data based on data altruism, the Commission shall adopt implementing acts establishing and developing a European data altruism consent form, after consulting the European Data Protection Board, taking into account the advice of the European Data Innovation Board and duly involving relevant stakeholders. The form shall allow the collection of consent or permission across Member States in a uniform format. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 33(2).

2.   The European data altruism consent form shall use a modular approach allowing customisation for specific sectors and for different purposes.

3.   Where personal data are provided, the European data altruism consent form shall ensure that data subjects are able to give consent to and withdraw consent from a specific data processing operation in compliance with the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2016/679.

4.   The form shall be available in a manner that can be printed on paper and is easily understandable as well as in an electronic, machine-readable form.

1.   The Commission shall establish a European Data Innovation Board in the form of an expert group, consisting of representatives of the competent authorities for data intermediation services and the competent authorities for the registration of data altruism organisations of all Member States, the European Data Protection Board, the European Data Protection Supervisor, ENISA, the Commission, the EU SME Envoy or a representative appointed by the network of SME envoys, and other representatives of relevant bodies in specific sectors as well as bodies with specific expertise. In its appointments of individual experts, the Commission shall aim to achieve gender and geographical balance among the members of the expert group.

2.   The European Data Innovation Board shall consist of at least the following three subgroups:

3.   The Commission shall chair the meetings of the European Data Innovation Board.

4.   The European Data Innovation Board shall be assisted by a secretariat provided by the Commission.

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.