The standardization of Trusted Data Transactions is advancing rapidly in Europe, driven by efforts from the European Commission and major international organizations. Central to this progress is the CEN (European Committee for Standardization) Workshop on Trusted Data Transaction, a pre-standardization initiative launched in 2023 by Dawex, Fraunhofer ISST, and TNO. This initiative thrives on the collaborative power of key stakeholders, bringing together the expertise of the European Commission, Gaia-X, IDSA, BDVA, Fiware Foundation, Microsoft, Airbus, EDF, Hub One, Prometheus-X, Data Spaces Support Center (DSSC), SQS and Connekt.
Over a 15-month period, workshop participants collaborated to produce and sign the Part 1 of a CEN Workshop Agreement (CWA) on Trusted Data Transactions, published in summer 2024. This agreement provides terminology, concepts and mechanisms in the field of data exchange focusing on trusted data transactions.
A second CWA on Trusted Data Transaction, Part 2, defining trustworthiness requirements that apply to each phase of a data transaction, has also been successfully completed, signed by all participants and will be published during summer 2025.
The Trusted Data Transaction pre-standardization workshop proved pivotal, directly shaping the European Trusted Data Framework—a top-three priority in the EU's 2024 standardization work programme.
Related to the European Trusted Data Framework, the European Commission has published a Standardization Request, including one request to CEN-CENELEC for a harmonized European Standard (hEN) on Trusted Data Transaction, linked to the article 33 of the European Data Act. The standard is currently worked out within the CEN JTC 25 Working Group 2, leveraging the work done in the CWA Part 1 and 2.
JTC 25’s mission is to develop standards to support the widespread adoption of digitalization and the establishment of a fully functioning Single Digital Market for the EU. The work will help reduce compliance costs and market entry barriers, enhance innovation & competitiveness, facilitate seamless Data Exchange, ensure interoperability, and create business opportunities.
This future standard builds upon the work of the CEN pre-standardisation Workshop on Trusted Data Transaction and consists of three parts:
Why does a harmonized European Standard on Trusted Data Transactions matter?
A harmonized European Standard will help data space participants - including data providers offering data, and data intermediaries offering data exchange services - comply with the requirements set out in Article 33 of the Data Act.
Beyond compliance, the harmonized European Standard on Trusted Data Transactions will also foster trust between participants when conducting data transactions, and enhance interoperability within and across data spaces, contributing to a more dynamic and competitive European data-driven market.
Standardization is crucial. Without standards, no business can operate, and no products or services can be sold or used at scale. This marks an important milestone in the ongoing efforts towards standardization in Data Exchange, creating trust and observability for Data Transactions, and interoperability across data spaces.