> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://frameworks.greendealdata.eu/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://frameworks.greendealdata.eu/governnace-frameworks/gdds-rulebook/data-sovereignty-and-technical-governance.md).

# Data Sovereignty & Technical Governance

Data Sovereignty & Technical Governance defines how data exchange within the GDDS is governed once participants have been admitted. Where the preceding sections govern who may participate and how conformity is maintained, this section governs how data moves between participants and on what terms. 

Its foundational principle is that data providers retain sovereignty over their data: the provider determines the conditions under which its data may be accessed, shared, and reused. The GDDS supports a federated exchange paradigm, in which data remains with the provider or is accessed through provider-controlled infrastructure unless the parties explicitly agree otherwise. Sovereignty is therefore preserved by design, not merely asserted as policy. 

Technical governance ensures that data exchange within GDDS aligns with recognised interoperability frameworks and European data space standards. 

This part of the governance framework establishes the rules and technical mechanisms necessary to ensure that data exchange occurs in a secure, interoperable, and policy-compliant manner.  

Hence, this section sets the rules, and points to the technical mechanisms, for six areas: 

1. data access and usage policy governance and enforcement; 
2. semantic transparency and interoperability; 
3. data provenance and traceability; 
4. registry and discovery governance; 
5. governance of APIs, connectors, and interoperability components; 
6. participant responsibilities for internal data governance. 

Throughout this section states, the governance rule and the responsible body and cross-references the Technical Framework (Data Interoperability; Data Sovereignty & Trust) for the specifications and implementation mechanics.