Government proposal for the implementation of the Data Governance Act circulated for comments

The Ministry of Transport and Communications requests comments on the draft government proposal on the implementation of the Data Governance Act. The deadline for submitting comments is 5 May 2023.

The Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on European data governance, i.e. the Data Governance Act, DGA, entered into force on 23 June 2022. The Act is new EU regulation. It creates a framework for data governance based on European values to improve access to data and harmonise data sharing in the EU. The aim is to create a shared European data space and an interoperable single market for data.

The DGA will apply as of 24 September 2023. It is directly applicable and must be complied with as such.  However, it imposes certain obligations on Member States to supplement the regulation. They are related to the competent authority and setting of penalties.

According to the draft government proposal, the official duties related to data intermediary services and recognised data altruism organisations would be assigned to the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom in Finland. Traficom would register and supervise the data intermediary services and recognised data altruism organisations.  Data altruism means sharing of data without receiving any reward so that it may be used for objectives in the general public interest. The new official duties to be assigned to Traficom would also include the possibility to impose a penalty payment on data intermediary services. In addition, Traficom would participate in the work of the European Data Innovation Board. 

Next steps

The deadline for comments on the draft proposal is 5 May 2023. All organisations and private individuals may submit comments online at www.lausuntopalvelu.fi. Following the public consultation, public officials will continue to draft the decree and make preparations for its implementation.

The DGA will apply as of 24 September 2023.

Inquiries:

Merita Erkkilä, Senior Officer, tel. +358 295 342 136, [email protected]
Tuomas Kaivola, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Legislative Affairs, tel. +358 295 342 366, [email protected]