Inside Europe’s approach to data

The EU has put forth a comprehensive new data strategy, with several dimensions to unpack in terms of economic impact, geopolitical implications and regulatory requirements.

But the level of preparedness for EU member states to jump on the train of the data economy varies significantly across the board, with countries in Europe's south facing challenges such as the lack of digital skills and access to data infrastructure.

National market specificities like the large presence of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are another important element, as a hefty regulatory framework might raise compliance costs, introducing a high entry bar for the data economy.

The international dimension is also a key aspect, as the success of the European data strategy might depend on the EU's capacity to shape the international standard for data use and sharing in international fora.