Amendment 264· Data Act Article 31(1b)
~Alternative
Text of the amendment
As tabled
Wordingagainst the Commission’s
A provider of a data processing service may include provisions on proportionate early termination penalties in a contract of fixed duration on the provision of data processing services other than those referred to in Article 30(1).
Struck CommissionHighlighted amendment
Data Act Article 31 with this amendment
Amendment 264 applied to the Commission proposal, no other amendment
Unchanged: (1) and (1a)
The obligations laid down in Article 23, point (d), Article 29 and Article 30(1) and (3) shall not apply to data processing services of which the majority of main features has been custom-built to accommodate the specific needs of an individual customer or where all components have been developed for the purposes of an individual customer, and where those data processing services are not offered at broad commercial scale via the service catalogue of the provider of data processing services.
The obligations laid down in Chapter VI, with the exception of Article 29, and in Article 34 shall not apply to data processing services other than those referred to in Article 30(1), where the majority of features and functionalities of the data processing service has been adapted by the provider to the specific needs of the customer, if the provision of such services is based on a contract concluded before or on 12 September 2025. The provider of such data processing services shall not be required to renegotiate or amend a contract for the provision of those services before its expiry if that contract was concluded before or on 12 September 2025. Any contractual provision contained in that contract that is contrary to Article 29(1), (2), or (3) shall be considered null and void.
A provider of a data processing service may include provisions on proportionate early termination penalties in a contract of fixed duration on the provision of data processing services other than those referred to in Article 30(1). Where the provider of data processing service is a small and medium-sized enterprise or a small mid-cap, the obligations laid down in Chapter VI, with the exception of Article 29, and in Article 34 shall not apply to data processing services other than those referred to in Article 30(1), if the provision of such services is based on a contract concluded before or on 12 September 2025. Where the provider of a data processing service is a small and medium-sized enterprise or a small mid-cap, the provider shall not be required to renegotiate or amend a contract for the provision of a data processing service other than those referred to in Article 30(1) before its expiry 1 if that contract was concluded before or on 12 September 2025. Any contractual provision contained in that contract that is contrary to Article 29(1), (2), or (3) shall be considered null and void.
Unchanged: (2) and (3)
The obligations laid down in this Chapter shall not apply to data processing services provided as a non-production version for testing and evaluation purposes and for a limited period of time.
Prior to the conclusion of a contract on the provision of the data processing services referred to in this Article, the provider of data processing services shall inform the prospective customer of the obligations of this Chapter that do not apply.
Struck removed Highlighted added Full text on the Data Act Article 31 page
Justification
The proposed change runs counter to the logic and other provisions of the Data Act and appears to reflect an unintended inconsistency in the Commission’s approach. Its practical effect would be highly negative for pricing stability and long-term predictability for customers. Moreover, by treating IaaS, PaaS and SaaS services differently without sufficient justification, it would create discriminatory regulatory outcomes and risk distorting competition within the cloud market.
Target
Wording of the targeted provisionlaw in force, Commission proposal, latest Council text
Commission proposalCOM(2025) 837
1b. A provider of a data processing service may include provisions on proportionate early termination penalties in a contract of fixed duration on the provision of data processing services other than those referred to in Article 30(1). Where the provider of data processing service is a small and medium-sized enterprise or a small mid-cap, the obligations laid down in Chapter VI, with the exception of Article 29, and in Article 34 shall not apply to data processing services other than those referred to in Article 30(1), if the provision of such services is based on a contract concluded before or on 12 September 2025. Where the provider of a data processing service is a small and medium-sized enterprise or a small mid-cap, the provider shall not be required to renegotiate or amend a contract for the provision of a data processing service other than those referred to in Article 30(1) before its expiry 1 if that contract was concluded before or on 12 September 2025. Any contractual provision contained in that contract that is contrary to Article 29(1), (2), or (3) shall be considered null and void.
Council text of 22 October 2026ST 14756/26
1b.Where the provider of data processing service is a small and medium-sized enterprise or a small mid-cap, the obligations laid down in Chapter VI, with the exception of Article 29, and in Article 34 shall not apply to data processing services other than those referred to in Article 30(1), if the provision of such services is based on a contract concluded before or on 12 September 2025.
Where the provider of a data processing service is a small and medium-sized enterprise or a small mid-cap, the provider shall not be required to renegotiate or amend a contract for the provision of a data processing service other than those referred to in Article 30(1) before its expiry 1 if that contract was concluded before or on 12 September 2025. Any contractual provision contained in that contract that is contrary to Article 29(1), (2), or (3) shall be considered null and void.
Cite this amendment
Amendment 264 (Piotr Müller and others), European Parliament, Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection, amendments 125–328 to the draft opinion on COM(2025) 837 (IMCO-AM-790905, PE790.905, 16 July 2026), p. 118
Link, short form and official text
Amendment 264 (Piotr Müller and others), European Parliament, Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection, amendments 125–328 to the draft opinion on COM(2025) 837 (IMCO-AM-790905, PE790.905, 16 July 2026), p. 118
IMCO Amendment 264 (IMCO-AM-790905), p. 118