Towards a European distributed remote access: main issues and future challenges

The value of research use of highly detailed micro data is increasingly recognized. As a consequence some countries have adopted new legislations to provide a suitable framework, other are moving in that direction though at different pace and with differences. A revision of the EC regulation is also under discussion to allow access to detailed European micro data. In the same time, equipments necessary to allow researchers to process such data in conditions of security have been set up in numerous countries though with differences in standards, procedures and equipments. National arrangements also differ as in some countries NSIs directly provide these services whilst in others the Data Archives may be involved in providing access. A distributed European remote access has recently appeared, as a solution to meet the researchers needs to access data across national borders whilst ensuring high security. The paper will draw the current landscape, evolutions and projects outlining the main issues to build such system. It will highlight the researchers needs for comparative projects requiring access across national borders and cooperation outside Europe and how the different solutions for a distributed remote access could meet these needs. It will emphasize the possible role of Data Archives. Finally, it will look to the future, stressing the increasing use of administrative and combined datasets and new challenges to be met.