Digital data is an essential resource for economic growth, competitiveness, innovation and societal progress in general. It is a key enabler for job creation, particularly for SMEs and startups, and the development of new technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI). If favourable policy and legislative conditions are put in place in time and investments in ICT are encouraged, the value of the European data economy may increase to EUR 739 billion by 2020, representing 4% of the overall EU GDP.

The availability of huge quantities of data, much of which is generated by machines and sensors, has an impact on all of us. Optimal use of data can help us live healthier and longer lives that are also more environmentally friendly. It can also help our scientists develop better models to predict climate change and natural catastrophes.

Building on the data protection legislation in force, the Commission proposed on 25 April 2018 a package of measures as a key step towards creating a common data space in the EU - a seamless digital area with the scale that will enable the development of new products and services based on data. It represents an innovative and holistic approach, using different policy and legal instruments to unlock the potential of various kinds of data: public sector data (increasingly recognised as a critical and indispensable asset for the development of new services and technologies), research data and private sector data.

The measures taken in the different areas are the following:

• Public sector data: A review of the Directive on the re-use of public sector information, notably to limit the exceptions applicable to the charging rule and to enlarge the scope of re-usable data to that produced by publicly funded transport and utilities companies. The proposal is currently being negotiated by the European Parliament and the Council;
• Research data: An update of the 2012 Recommendation on access to and preservation of scientific information and some provisions in the Directive on the re-use of public sector information;
• Data sharing by the private sector: A guidance document on sharing private sector data among companies and with public sector bodies for public interest purposes (non-regulatory measure), marking the start of a stakeholder dialogue on the principles that should govern private sector data sharing in business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-government (B2G) contexts.