European Union: EDPB-EDPS adopted joint opinion on proposal for Digital Omnibus including prohibition on data localisation requirements for non-personal data

On 10 February 2026, the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) and the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) adopted a joint opinion on the proposal for a Regulation as regards the simplification of the digital legislative framework (Digital Omnibus). In relation to data localisation requirements, the Joint Opinion addresses the integration of the Data Governance Act (DGA) and the Open Data Directive (ODD) into the Data Act, while the Proposal also repeals the Free Flow of Non-Personal Data Regulation. It notes that while the latter is repealed, the prohibition of data localisation requirements within the Union is retained. The Joint Opinion recommends reinstating provisions clarifying that this framework does not create an obligation for public sector bodies to allow the re-use of personal data, nor does it provide an independent legal basis for processing such data outside the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).