Harmonization may be counterproductive—at least for parts of Europe where public health research operates effectively.

The article focuses on the suggestion of Carinci and colleagues on the need to emphasize the harmonization of data protection between all European Member States to update the European Union Data protection directive. It says that the public health research especially in the Nordic countries will worsen due to the proposal. It adds that an epidemiological studies will not be conducted in unbiased, reliable, and efficient manner at a low cost if their proposal will be carried out.