Data policy watch
Data is the lifeblood of the digital and green transitions. It fuels innovation, enables artificial intelligence, and powers new solutions across every sector — from healthcare and energy to mobility and manufacturing. But unlocking the full potential of data requires clear rules on how it can be accessed, shared, and used responsibly.
This section aims to help national stakeholders understand the European Union’s agenda and priorities and grasp the plans’ full significance, identify strategic opportunities and align their activities with Europe’s ambitions.
Tracking Luxembourg and Europe’s journey toward a fair and open data economy
Europe’s Strategy for Data, launched in 2020, provides the foundation for a single European data market, one that ensures data flows freely across borders and sectors while respecting privacy, competition, and European values. Building on this vision, the European Union has progressively developed a robust legal and governance framework to create trust, interoperability, and fairness in data access and use.
In Luxembourg, the national vision is particularly aligned with this European ambition. The country’s “Accelerating digital sovereignty 2030” strategy places data at its core and aims to transform Luxembourg into a recognised data-hub of excellence. The Luxembourg Data Strategy emphasises centralised governance, strong infrastructure, and the reuse of public and private data in a trusted environment with the objective of enhancing both national competitiveness and European digital sovereignty. Luxembourg seeks to leverage its high-quality digital infrastructure, dense Tier-IV data-centre capacity, and membership in initiatives like Gaia‑X, to create a pan-European model for data sharing and innovation.
Our data policy watch follows these developments closely, helping innovators, businesses, and policymakers understand how Europe is shaping the future of its data economy.
The timeline below highlights the key milestones of the European data strategy, illustrating how each policy builds upon the last to create a comprehensive and interconnected ecosystem for data-driven innovation.
The EU Data Act: empowering fair access and use of data
The Data Act is a central pillar of the European Union’s data strategy, designed to create fairness, innovation, and trust in the digital economy. Adopted in 2024, it provides a comprehensive legal framework that defines who can access and use data generated within the EU — whether by connected devices, services, or business operations.
By ensuring that users have access to the data they help generate, and that companies compete on equal terms, the Data Act promotes a level playing field and stimulates innovation. It also complements the Data Governance Act and the European Strategy for Data, forming part of a broader policy ecosystem that underpins Europe’s digital transformation.
This briefing outlines the Data Act’s key objectives, scope, and implications for stakeholders, including businesses, consumers, and policymakers. It also explores how the Act supports interoperability, facilitates the emergence of European data spaces, and reinforces Europe’s commitment to a human-centric and sovereign data economy.
