European transport associations are urging the EU to adopt a fair and transparent framework for B2B data governance

The declaration was signed by International Road Transport Union (IRU), International Association for Public Transport authorities (UITP), European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), The Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER), European Shippers' Council (ESC), European Association of Automotive Suppliers (CLEPA), Airlines for European Union (A4E) and European Community Shipowners' Associations (ECSA).

In the document, the eight associations pointed out that transport sector is increasingly reliant on the exchange large amounts of personal and non-personal data actors, quantities that are also rapidly growing at innovations in the sector. "We believe - IRU, UITP, ACEA, CER, ESC, CLEPA, A4E and ECSA - which data and digitisation offer new opportunities in all logistics and mobility systems as well as for all EU citizens and businesses. In addition, efforts to digitising the transport sector will also contribute to the EU Green Deal objectives. However we are fully aware of the challenges unlocking the potential of the data economy.'

IRU, UITP, ACEA, CER, ESC, CLEPA, A4E and ECSA specified challenges are those of the "confidence of stakeholders that the data will be used in accordance with the contractual agreements or even without these, given the unequal power contractual agreement between the parties; the lack of economic incentives, including concerns about competitiveness and protection commercial interests; the risk of embezzlement third-party data, resulting in potential consumer protection and legal liability; One lack of legal certainty on access governance and data usage (including co-created data, such as data related to the Internet of Things) and their reuse and redistribution; a lack of understanding of the overall costs associated with generation, processing, storage, and data distribution.' IRU, UITP, ACEA, CER, ESC, CLEPA, A4E ECSA stressed that in light of these challenges "it is measures must be taken to ensure equal opportunities all the business partners of the digital economy" and that, "at In this purpose, a fair and equitable governance structure is needed business-to-business data."

For the eight associations, the first principle within the EU data governance should include voluntary provision data when - according to the associations - "the supply business data could hamper competitiveness European companies by increasing the power of a few large companies to smaller players such as SMEs.' For IRU, UITP, ACEA, CER, ESC, CLEPA, A4E and ECSA, therefore, "the exchange B2B data should continue to be based on agreements voluntary contracts that are a flexible and flexible option Efficient. This principle - the associations have pointed out - should apply to all companies, public or private, operate an exclusively commercial service or as part of a public service contract and regardless of their owner's property.'

In addition, IRU, UITP, ACEA, CER, ESC, CLEPA, A4E and ECSA noted that "the obligations and responsibilities of data aggregators should be clearly defined at the EU and the rights of data generators should be explicitly recognized. In particular, the collection, storage, processing, sharing, use, storage, storage, storage, storage, storage, storage, storage, storage, storage, storage, storage, storage, storage, storage, storage, storage, storage, storage, storage, storage, storage, data reuse, access and security should be B2B contracts. This - they found - can increase confidence and allay fears of misappropriation of data.'

Another principle, according to the associations, should be standardization and interoperability of data. "The lack of interoperability and multi-mode specifications agreed at EU level, for example for APIs or data, they explained, is a problem that makes it difficult interoperability between platforms and increases the risk of binding to the platform. Efforts to standardize - specified IRU, UITP, ACEA, CER, ESC, CLEPA, A4E and ECSA - must take into account the economic and operational realities transport companies and do not represent an excessive burden.'

Another principle should be to "promote skills development to increase competitiveness" and another should provide financial support as - IRU, UITP, ACEA, CER, ESC, CLEPA, A4E and ECSA - "the impact on the sector of the transition to an economy should not be underestimated, as fixed costs are high and low margins. To embrace digitalisation - they associations - the transport sector calls for clarity legal and regulatory, but also financial support for small and medium-sized enterprises.'