12 Mar 2026
The Guild publishes response to EU Data Union Strategy
The Guild has published its response to the European Commission’s new Data Union Strategy and the accompanying Digital Omnibus proposals, highlighting how the initiative can better support research and innovation in Europe.
In its position paper, The Guild stresses the essential role of universities and public research organisations in enabling access to data and building a genuinely collaborative European data ecosystem. It calls for sustained, structured dialogue between EU institutions and the research community throughout the negotiations and implementation of the Digital Omnibus.
The Guild’s recommendations focus on four key areas:
- Governance of data labs: Ensuring clear mandates and strong alignment with existing initiatives such as the EHDS, EuroHPC JU and EOSC, while safeguarding effective access for researchers.
- Legal coherence: Welcoming the consolidation of data legislation, but warning that rules must be streamlined and aligned with the forthcoming European Research Area Act, reflecting the specific needs of universities.
- Strategic data assets: Calling for transparent, expert-driven processes to prioritise and manage public sector, scientific, cultural and linguistic data, involving recognised research experts.
- Data sovereignty: Urging an international data governance approach that protects EU strategic interests without undermining global scientific cooperation or access to worldwide datasets, including with African partners.
The position paper can be downloaded here: