During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels 24 - 25 March 2021), MEPs debate a European strategy for data. Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI (S&D, FI), Rapporteur, considers that an EU-wide strategy that enables the free flow of data within the EU is needed for European businesses, universities and research to be globally competitive. On the same time, a data society must be set up that is built on rights and EU values such as privacy, transparency and respect of fundamental rights, leading to better and automated real-time services, sustainable growth and high-quality jobs. Statements by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, Axel VOSS (EPP, DE), Nicola DANTI (Renew, IT), and Marisa MATIAS (The Left, PT).

Brussels

statement

debate

plenary session

DANTI, Nicola (Renew, IT)

protection of personal data (T)

reform of the UE Data Protection Framework (T)

MATIAS, Marisa (The Left, PT)

KUMPULA-NATRI, Miapetra (S&D, FI)

VOSS, Axel (EPP, DE)

REYNDERS, Didier (BE, EC)

European strategy for data: extracts from the debate and statement by Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI (S&D, FI), Rapporteur

Title: European strategy for data: extracts from the debate and statement by Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI (S&amp;D, FI), Rapporteur

SOUNDBITE (English), Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI (S&amp;D, FI), Rapporteur, I think that the data economy will happen and we want to make more possibilities but at the same time basis for the rules that are needed on the new data economy. So, it is like a document of the possibilities, so that Europe can create new jobs and great innovations when we have a data that is more structured, it's quality data and more flowing so that the European companies also can have the internal market of the data.

SOUNDBITE (English), Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI (S&amp;D, FI), Rapporteur, Covid-19 Crisis has highlighted even more the role and need for the high quality, real time data sharing. Data can be used to predict and treat diseases and understand better how virus is spread. 

SOUNDBITE (French), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, Obviously, the covid-19 pandemic was one thing, but that crisis also made it very clear how important data and digital technology were when one is facing unprecedented challenges. The Commission shares the rapporteur's view that the potential of data has not been fully exploited yet in Europe, one reason for this being a lack of trust in data sharing, lack of confidence in data sharing, and the lack of standards for circulating data between sectors and between member states. The Commission also shares the view that we should be able to put our own European stamp on a data based society on the basis of our common values.

SOUNDBITE (German), Axel VOSS (EPP, DE), I wonder whether we really have the desire and the force to survive digitally. If you want to survive in global digital competition, you need data spaces, you need access to data analysis and the possibility to share data. We have to be innovation friendly and at the same time based on principles we have to create the framework conditions.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Nicola DANTI (Renew, IT), The challenge which we face today is in relation to non personal data. By approving this, we will be showing that it is Parliament's conviction that we can achieve European data governance that is important to our economic systems. It is particularly important to SMEs and in that way they can be more competitive, more innovative and at the same time we will be able to improve citizens, workers and consumers everyday lives.

SOUNDBITE (Portuguese), Marisa MATIAS (The Left, PT), We need to ensure that employees have control over their data and how such data is shared. We also need to ensure that privacy is protected in the workplace and workplace rights, health data, insurance companies and any other service provider which has access to data with health consequences should not be able to use such data for criminal purposes.