Brussels,
THE NEW FRONTIERS
Data & cloud computing
The quantity of data is expected to keep increasing exponentially, with citizens, businesses, and public administrations generating more and more information every day.
If used correctly, data can create value for people, industries, and the environment. To unlock this potential, data must be shared and reused in a trusted and secure way, fully in line with EU rules and values — including data protection, intellectual property rights, cybersecurity, and trade secrets.
To achieve this, the EU is building a European single market for data: open, fair, and sovereign. This model ensures that data flows freely while remaining under European standards of trust and fundamental rights.
If used correctly, data can create value for people, industries, and the environment. To unlock this potential, data must be shared and reused in a trusted and secure way, fully in line with EU rules and values — including data protection, intellectual property rights, cybersecurity, and trade secrets.
To achieve this, the EU is building a European single market for data: open, fair, and sovereign. This model ensures that data flows freely while remaining under European standards of trust and fundamental rights.
The European Data Strategy
Introduced in February 2020, the European Data Strategy set out measures to maximise the value of data. Its core objectives are to:
This strategy underpins the creation of a data economy by 2030, aligned with the Digital Decade objectives.
Introduced in February 2020, the European Data Strategy set out measures to maximise the value of data. Its core objectives are to:
- allow data to flow freely within the EU and across sectors,
- overcome barriers to sharing through interoperable infrastructure, legal clarity, and ethical frameworks,
- foster the development of common European data spaces (e.g. health, energy, mobility, manufacturing, agriculture, finance, public services),
- ensure European cloud autonomy, strengthening the EU’s capacity to provide secure, competitive, and sustainable cloud services.
This strategy underpins the creation of a data economy by 2030, aligned with the Digital Decade objectives.
EU Legislative Framework
- Free Flow of Non-Personal Data Regulation (2018) — ensures non-personal data can move freely across EU countries and IT systems.
- Data Governance Act (DGA) — in force since September 2023, it creates mechanisms for trusted data sharing across sectors, establishes rules for data intermediaries, and promotes data altruism organisations to encourage voluntary data sharing for the public good.
- Data Act (DA) — entered into force in January 2024, applicable from September 2025. It defines rights and obligations around access and use of data generated by connected devices and services, reinforcing fairness in the data economy and empowering users.
- Cloud and Edge — through the European Alliance for Industrial Data and Cloud, the EU is supporting the development of a federated, interoperable, and energy-efficient cloud and edge infrastructure, ensuring digital sovereignty and reducing dependency on a few global providers.
Outlook
By 2030, the EU aims to have a thriving single market for data, with interoperable European data spaces, trustworthy cloud and edge infrastructures, and strong safeguards for rights and competition.
This approach ensures that Europe harnesses data and cloud computing as engines for innovation, sustainability, and industrial competitiveness — while keeping them aligned with European values and autonomy.
By 2030, the EU aims to have a thriving single market for data, with interoperable European data spaces, trustworthy cloud and edge infrastructures, and strong safeguards for rights and competition.
This approach ensures that Europe harnesses data and cloud computing as engines for innovation, sustainability, and industrial competitiveness — while keeping them aligned with European values and autonomy.
