The EU data sharing acquis is a collection of legislative instruments that govern data sharing and reuse across the Union. It includes the Data Act, which introduces mandatory data-sharing obligations to foster innovation; the Data Governance Act, which creates trust frameworks for data intermediation and altruistic sharing; and the Open Data Directive, which regulates the reuse of public sector information. Complementing these are the Free Flow of Non-Personal Data Regulation, which prohibits unjustified data localisation.

Together, these EU Regulations aim to create a common legal framework to foster B2B and G2B data sharing across the EU. However, the complexity and fragmentation of the framework have posed challenges for businesses and administrations. Via the Digital Omnibus proposal, the Commission aims to address these criticisms. The proposal consolidates rules on public sector data reuse by merging the Open Data Directive and parts of the Data Governance Act into the Data Act, repeals outdated instruments like the Free Flow of Non-Personal Data Regulation, and streamlines data intermediation services by making registration voluntary. In addition, It narrows the scope of business-to-government data sharing to ‘public emergencies’, strengthens trade secret protection, and removes unnecessary requirements such as smart contract provisions.

Through an informed discussion among academics, representatives of regulatory authorities, firms, and civil society, the third Digital Omnibus talk aims to unpack the impact of the Digital Omnibus proposal on the EU data sharing acquis.

Key questions discussed throughout the webinars:

-       Are the modifications introduced by the Digital Omnibus package only ‘technical’, as argued by the European Commission, or do they introduce substantial modifications to the existing EU data sharing acquis?

-       Does the legislative package effectively simplify the existing EU regulatory framework on data sharing, thus improving legal certainty and reducing compliance costs for public authorities and private firms?

-       Will the Digital Omnibus effectively support innovation in the digital sector in Europe, as argued by the Draghi Report?

-       What is the impact of the Digital Omnibus on data subjects’ rights in the digital sphere?

The Digital Omnibus Talks are organised by the EUI Centre for a Digital Society and the Centre for Media Pluralism and Freedom, in cooperation with the Department of Legal Studies at the University of Florence. The initiative takes place in the context of the Florence Forum on Digital Regulation (FLODIR).