A first step towards the Common European Data Space

In the era of digitalisation, with the amount of data that is generated daily growing exponentially, data has become an essential resource for economic growth, competition, innovation, job creation and overall social progress. Programs, systems and applications that leverage data will offer many societal benefits, from improving healthcare to increasing energy efficiency. However, with increased data processing comes heightened security risks, particularly regarding the safe transfer of data and compliance with EU regulations and values. Therefore, a consistent and efficient data management environment must be established. In response, the Common European Data Space (CEDS) project was created to simplify the access, exchange and use of data across various sectors of the economy and society in a way that is safe for people and businesses.

What is the Common European Data Space?

The Common European Data Space is an EU initiative to create a single data ecosystem in Europe, where data generated across the EU can be reliably and securely shared and exchanged. There are 14 European Common Data Spaces currently under development in the following sectors: agriculture, cultural heritage, energy, finance, green deal, health, industry (manufacturing), language, media, mobility, public administration, research and innovation, and skills and tourism. The CEDS is designed to allow easy and secure access to data for both public institutions and the private sector.

Key goals and principles of the CEDS

The CEDS promotes the principle of data transparency, ensuring that information is available to all users, whether public institutions or individual citizens, in a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory manner. This enables anyone to use the data for research or to create innovative solutions.

In the context of the CEDS, protecting personal data is also crucial. The project stipulates the implementation of appropriate security mechanisms to safeguard user privacy and ensure compliance with the GDPR, providing a secure and privacy-protecting infrastructure.

First step: medical sector

The first European data space dedicated to the medical sector, the European Health Data Space (EHDS) was approved by the EU in spring 2024. The EHDS will allow individuals to control their health data and facilitate the exchange of this data for healthcare services within the EU as part of the European cross-border health services infrastructure. In addition, the EHDS will help establish a single market for electronic health record systems and provide a consistent, reliable and efficient system for using health data in research, innovation, policymaking and regulatory activities.

Summary

The implementation of the CEDS, including the EHDS, will bring many benefits to both the economy and citizens. First, it will accelerate the development of innovations, allowing companies to use publicly available data to create new products and services. Secondly, the CEDS will enhance the efficiency of public institutions. With improved access to data, the administration will be able to make more informed decisions, ultimately translating into better public services.

authors: Daria Rutecka, Piotr Podsiedlik