In a recent article published by Science|Business, EOSC-A President Klaus Tochtermann reflected on the European Commission’s new Digital Simplification Package, noting its potential implications for Europe’s research and data landscape.
While the initiative, unveiled on 19 November 2025, seeks to streamline EU data rules and expand access to high-quality datasets as part of Europe’s broader push for technological competitiveness and reduced reliance on foreign-controlled infrastructures, Tochtermann cautioned that simplification must not come at the expense of essential safeguards.
He stressed that the final legislation must preserve rigorous protections, such as data-protection impact assessments, provenance, and access controls, to ensure that increased access does not compromise the security of sensitive data.
“While intended to simplify procedures, this may weaken the careful, case-by-case assessments that currently protect sensitive research datasets, potentially increasing exposure of personal data,” Tochtermann said.
The full article published on 11 December 2025 is available here.
