European Union

Please always refer to the European Commission's website for the most up-to-date information on the EC's policies on Open Science and the European Open Science Cloud.

In the following, you will find the some of the most important policies of the European Commission.

The Digital Single Market (DSM) is the strategy of the European Commission to ensure access to online activities for individuals and businesses under conditions of fair competition, consumer and data protection, removing geo-blocking and copyright issues.

A Digital Single Market is one in which the free movement of goods, persons, services and capital is ensured and where individuals and businesses can seamlessly access and exercise online activities under conditions of fair competition, and a high level of consumer and personal data protection, irrespective of their nationality or place of residence. Achieving a Digital Single Market will ensure that Europe maintains its position as a world leader in the digital economy, helping European companies to grow globally.

The Digital Single Market Strategy is built on three pillars:

  • Better access for consumers and businesses to online goods and services across Europe 
  • Creating the right conditions for digital networks and services to flourish 
  • Maximising the growth potential of our European Digital Economy – this requires investment in ICT infrastructures and technologies such as Cloud computing and Big Data, and research and innovation to boost industrial competitiveness as well as better public services, inclusiveness and skills.

The strategy was launched in May 2015. On 10 May 2017, the Commission published a mid-term review of the Digital Single Market Strategy. It presents and evaluates the progress in implementing the Strategy since 2015 and highlights where further actions are needed.

The European Research Area (ERA) is a unified research area open to the world based on the Internal market, in which researchers, scientific knowledge and technology circulate freely. Through the ERA, the European Union and its Member States will strengthen their scientific and technological bases, their competitiveness and their capacity to address grand challenges collectively.

The High Level Expert Group on the European Open Science Cloud advises the Commission on the measures needed to implement the European Open Science Cloud. The current HLEG has 10 expert members with a complementary set of expertise related to various key aspects of the set-up of scientific data clouds, including standardisation, certification, procurement, delivery of federated services, business models, management, governance and funding of national and European research data infrastructures and e-Infrastructures.

The Open Science Policy Platform advises the European Commission on how to further develop and practically implement open science policy.
In support of policy formulation, it helps to identify the issues to be addressed and provide recommendations to the Commission on the policy actions required.
In support of effective policy implementation, it contributes to reviewing best practices, drawing policy guidelines and encouraging their active uptake by stakeholders.
It works as a dynamic, stakeholder-driven mechanism for bringing up and addressing issues of concern for the European science and research community and its representative organisations, in relation to the development of Open Science in Europe. It also provides advice and recommendations on any cross-cutting issues affecting Open Science.