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The European Commission’s Digital Single Market Communication (2015) recognised that "unnecessary restrictions regarding the location of data within the EU should both be removed and prevented". The EU Executive later announced a forthcoming legislative proposal to enable the free flow of data within the EU Single Market.

The European Parliament welcomed this initiative in its Digital Single Market Resolution and asked that the ‘free flow of data’ initiative takes into account "concerns about the impact of data localisation requirements on the functioning of the single market".

A recent think tank study found that removing existing data localising laws in EU Members States would lead to an estimated 8 billion euros in GDP gains annually. Preventing harmful data localisation measures in the future would be worth another 52 billion euros per year, equal of 0.37% of EU GDP (ECIPE, 2016).

Despite its announcements and the wide support from the European Parliament and Council, the European Commission on the 10th January presented a Communication ‘Building a European Data Economy’ and a public consultation.

The Communication confirms that “unjustified restrictions on the free movement of data … impair the freedom to provide services and the freedom of establishment stipulated in the Treaty ... and risk fragmenting the market”. The trend “towards more data localisation” and the “lack of transparent rules” limit access to cheaper and more innovative data services.

The European Commission is now seeking input from stakeholders as it considers further action such as infringement proceedings against Member States’ laws or legislation.

This EIF debate will take stock of the current situation and discuss the best approach to enable data flows within EU to future-proof the EU Digital Single Market. 

  • programme - 8th February 2017

    Welcome and introduction:

    Pilar del Castillo MEP and EIF Chair

    Speakers:

    Ambassador Vibeke Pasternak Jørgensen, Deputy Permanent Representative (Coreper I), Permanent Representation of Denmark to the EU

    Pearse O'Donohue, acting Director for Future Networks, DG CONNECT, European Commission

    Hosuk Lee-Makiyama, Director, European Centre for International Political Economy (ECIPE)

    Archie Ravishankar, CEO of Cogni

    Dr. Klaus Mittelbach, CEO of ZVEI (German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association)

    Exchange of views with participants

    (under the Chatham House rule)

Practical information

08 February 2017 12:30 - 14:00

European Parliament
Members' Salon
Rue Wiertz 60
Brussels
Belgium

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  • #DIGITAL SINGLE MARKET
  • #DATA PROTECTION
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Speakers

  • Pilar del Castillo MEP, EIF Chair
  • Ambassador Vibeke Pasternak Jørgensen Deputy Permanent Representative (Coreper I) Permanent Representation of Denmark to the EU
  • Pearse O'Donohue acting Director for Future Networks DG CONNECT, European Commission
  • Hosuk Lee-Makiyama Director, European Centre for International Political Economy European Centre for International Political Economy (ECIPE)
  • Archie Ravishankar CEO Cogni
  • Klaus Mittelbach CEO ZVEI (German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association)