On 23 February, the European Commission launched its EU Data Act proposal to reshape the EU’s data strategy and prepare the bloc for the changes in the years to come.

With a focus on Business-to-business (B2B) and Business-to-Government (B2G) data-sharing, the Data Act brings some good news and more clarity on processes. It aims to harmonise rules on fair access and use, as well as prepare the bloc for a new era of digital economy and green transition.

Other matters have been contemplated by the proposal, such as interoperability requirements for data use between sectors or by products or services and its sharing with third parties – for cities to have access to the Internet of Things (IoT) devices, for example.

With the growing volume of information generated by humans and machines every day, there’s a pressing need for guidelines to make life easier for governments and companies alike. Also, facilitate the exchange of data while reassuring its security and privacy.

Cities must be part of the decision process, as they are not only important actors but also have specific needs and uses of information for the services they provide to the population.