Without data sharing and protection, there is no market access – President of the Personal Data Protection Office at the European e-Commerce Summit

“A Level Playing Field in E-Commerce: Strengthening the Single Market and the EU’s Digital Sovereignty” was the theme of the European E-Commerce Summit, which took place on April 14, 2026. During the event, Mirosław Wróblewski, President of the Personal Data Protection Office, presented remarks on personal data protection in the context of e-commerce.

Opening remarks were delivered by Dariusz Standerski, Deputy Minister of Digital Affairs; Kamila Gasiuk-Pihowicz, Member of the European Parliament; and Patrycja Sass-Staniszewska, President of the Chamber of Digital Economy in Poland.

President of the Personal Data Protection Office: Without data exchange and protection, there is no market access

Mirosław Wróblewski, President of the Personal Data Protection Office, highlighted issues with effective data sharing, which stem primarily from a fundamental asymmetry: while European companies adhere to strict transparency rules in this area, platforms outside the EU face significantly fewer obligations. The ability to enforce EU regulations on the latter group is limited, with the result that Europe generates vast amounts of data but is unable to fully reap the benefits of this fact. Furthermore, large platforms themselves combine their data within their own organisations, creating closed ecosystems. This is due to the attitude of companies that treat data as a competitive resource rather than a common good.

Mirosław Wróblewski emphasised that the provisions of the GDPR require complex interpretation, which increases the cost of compliance. At the same time, however, enforcing them against entities from third countries can be difficult, and there are still gaps regarding obligations related to data sharing and exchange. As for technical limitations, he pointed to the lack of standardised interfaces for platforms across different jurisdictions and limited interoperability between the systems of these platforms, market supervisory authorities, and customs authorities. The main problem, however, remains the inability to fully enforce EU regulations.

In conclusion, the President of the Personal Data Protection Office noted that establishing a uniform legal framework for data exchange within the EU could prove helpful. Such a framework would need to include common standards, procedures, and data management principles, built upon existing institutions, such as data zones. The fundamental principle, however, should be that access to the EU market is conditional—it would be denied to entities that refuse to share data. Only such a solution can ensure that data generated in Europe serves to strengthen European innovation and sovereignty.

“In the digital economy, control over data means control over the market. If Europe wants a level playing field, it must shift from regulating data to strategically managing access to it—including global platforms operating within the EU,” concluded Mirosław Wróblewski.

How to Effectively Implement EU Regulations in E-commerce – Roundtable Discussion

The second round of discussions focused on what the EU should do next regarding the implementation of regulations and market oversight. Speakers included representatives from the Chamber of Digital Economy, Bartosz Skowroński and Agnieszka Kisielewska, as well as legal counsel Witold Chomiczewski.

The European e-Commerce Summit 2026 also featured a roundtable discussion involving approximately 40 representatives from EU institutions, member states, and the European e-commerce sector. Topics discussed included the impact of Chinese platforms on the Polish economy, ensuring fair competition, and the effective enforcement of EU law in e-commerce.