The Government has approved the draft law on open data and the re-use of public sector information, aligning national legislation with the latest EU regulatory framework. This is a significant step toward greater transparency in public administration and more effective digital governance.

What does the new law mean for citizens and businesses?

It ensures easier access to relevant information, provided in a user-friendly format, while maintaining strong safeguards for personal data protection — striking a balance between openness and individual rights.

Key Provisions Include:

- The procedure for submitting and processing data re-use requests

- Grounds for denying access and how such decisions can be appealed

- Conditions for re-use of public sector information

- Rules on exclusive agreements and access to high-value datasets

With the implementation of this law, the digital transformation of the public sector will accelerate. Decision-making will become more data-driven, and institutions will be required to standardize and automate how they collect and publish data. This will help reduce administrative costs and streamline responses to information requests.

Open data will also fuel innovation—both within the public sector and across the private sector—by enabling the creation of new solutions to complex problems and improving strategic decision-making.

Benefits for the Private Sector:

- Easier access to data that can unlock new market opportunities

- Reduced costs for research and development

- Lower expenses associated with generating or acquiring proprietary data

- Enhanced transparency requirements for private legal entities operating in key sectors: energy, water, transport, and postal services

The Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization will lead policy development and oversee implementation, while the e-Governance Agency (AGE) will assess and upgrade the national open data portal — data.gov.md — to ensure compliance with the new legal requirements.

 Why it matters:

Easier access to public information will increase trust in government, improve oversight of public institutions, and stimulate the development of new digital services and applications — further strengthening the IT sector and entrepreneurship. It will also contribute to more personalized and efficient public services, while narrowing the information gap between social groups.