The European Commission has announced two initiatives to enable stakeholders to contribute to the further development and implementation of the European Health Data Space (EHDS). These are the EHDS Stakeholder Forum and the EHDS Stakeholders’ Community. Both are intended to provide a platform for the exchange of knowledge and input from the field. Through these initiatives, the Commission aims to involve stakeholders in the implementation of the European rules on the sharing and use of health data.
The EHDS Stakeholder Forum will act as an advisory body and form a direct link between stakeholders and the EHDS Board. Representatives of various stakeholder groups will be able to contribute their perspectives and expertise via the Forum. This creates a formal opportunity to incorporate practical experience into the further implementation of the EHDS. The available information does not yet provide further details on the precise nature of the Stakeholders’ Community’s role.
Stakeholder Forum
The EHDS Stakeholder Forum will have around 80 members. Organisations and certain public bodies may apply to join. Selection will take place via a procedure designed to ensure a balanced representation of the various stakeholders. Applications to join the Forum can be submitted until 10 December 2026.
The European Commission provides further information on its website about the Forum, the conditions for participation and the application procedure.
Stakeholder Community
The EHDS Stakeholders’ Community is open to all stakeholders involved in the implementation and further development of the EHDS or who are directly affected by it.
Within the Community, participants can:
- Attend webinars, conferences and other knowledge-sharing activities.
- Access news, guidelines and other relevant information about the EHDS.
- Share their feedback via surveys, interviews and thematic discussions.
- Exchange knowledge and practical experiences with other European stakeholders.
- View and read recordings, presentations and summaries of meetings.
All stakeholders can register for the Community by completing an expression of interest form via the European Commission’s website on this topic. They will then receive a guide with instructions on how to access the Community. Further information about the Community and the expression of interest form can be found on the European Commission’s website.
Stakeholder involvement is crucial to the further development of the EHDS. The transition from European legislation to practical implementation still presents various technical and organisational challenges.
Insider update
A couple of weeks ago, we published an insider update. Following the European Parliament’s approval of a provisional agreement in April 2024, implementation was expected to progress towards 2029. The framework covers both primary data use, supporting cross-border healthcare through MyHealth@EU, and secondary use for research, policymaking and innovation. While primary data exchange is already operational in several countries, infrastructure for secondary use remains less developed.
Major challenges include differences in national digital healthcare systems, interoperability, infrastructure investment and public trust. The European Commission has allocated €810 million to support implementation, alongside broader digitalisation funding. The EHDS could improve continuity of care, reduce unnecessary testing and accelerate medical research by facilitating access to health data. However, achieving these benefits will require coordinated implementation, strong privacy safeguards and sustained investment across member states.
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