INSPIRE and the PSI directive: Public task versus commercial activities? Katleen Janssen Interdisciplinary Centre for Law and ICT (ICRI) K.U.Leuven IBBT (Interdisciplinary Institute for Broadband Technology)

Transparante overheidsinformatie als competitief voordeel voor Vlaanderen INSPIRE and the PSI directive Introduction INSPIRE draft directive 23/07/2004: proposal by the Commission PSI directive 05/06/2002: proposal by the Commission 17/11/2003: directive promulgated 01/07/2005: transposition

Transparante overheidsinformatie als competitief voordeel voor Vlaanderen INSPIRE and the PSI directive INSPIRE and PSI have a different purpose INSPIRE draft directive Access of the citizen to (environmental) spatial data Sharing of spatial data between public authorities for the performance of their public task PSI directive Re-use by the information industry Re-use by public sector bodies for purposes outside of the public task

Transparante overheidsinformatie als competitief voordeel voor Vlaanderen INSPIRE and the PSI directive Reminder: principles of the PSI directive General principle “ Where the re-use of documents held by public sector bodies is allowed, these documents shall be re-usable for commercial or non-commercial purposes ” Decision to allow re-use lies with the Member States or PSBs But: if re-use is allowed for one purpose, it has to be allowed for others

Transparante overheidsinformatie als competitief voordeel voor Vlaanderen INSPIRE and the PSI directive Reminder: principles of the PSI directive Charging “Where charges are made, the total income from supplying shall not exceed the cost of collection, production, reproduction and dissemination, together with a reasonable return on investment” Cost-oriented charges Non-discrimination and fair trading “If documents are re-used by a PSB as input for its commercial activities, the same charges and other conditions shall apply to the supply of the documents as apply to other users”

Transparante overheidsinformatie als competitief voordeel voor Vlaanderen INSPIRE and the PSI directive INSPIRE draft directive Without prejudice to PSI directive, “the objectives of which are complementary to those of this Directive” (Recital 7) Overlaps? (Recital 7) “Commission should take further measures to address issues relevant for the re-use of the specific category of PSI covered by this Directive” (Recital 21) “With a view to stimulating the development of added- value services by third parties (…), it is necessary to facilitate access to and re-use of spatial data (…)” Article 20 (now 14) Article (now 17)

Transparante overheidsinformatie als competitief voordeel voor Vlaanderen INSPIRE and the PSI directive INSPIRE draft directive Article 20 of the Commission’s proposal “ Member States shall ensure that the services referred to in Article 18 (1) (a) and (b) are available to the public free of charge” Parliament and Council: “in a form preventing their re-use for commercial purposes, and a click-licence may be included to restrict the use that can be made of the data” Council: “where charges and/or licences are an essential precondition (…), Member States may apply charges and/or licenses”  Unusual on the Internet  Freedom of information legislation?  Intellectual property?

Transparante overheidsinformatie als competitief voordeel voor Vlaanderen INSPIRE and the PSI directive INSPIRE draft directive Article 23 of the Commission’s proposal “ Member States shall adopt measures for the sharing of spatial data sets and services (…). The measures shall preclude, at the point of use, any restrictions, in particular of a transactional, procedural, legal, institutional or financial nature” Council: “does not prevent public authorities that supply spatial data sets and services from licensing them to, and requiring payment from, the public authorities” “practical restrictions” Concern about financial viability Charges?

Transparante overheidsinformatie als competitief voordeel voor Vlaanderen INSPIRE and the PSI directive INSPIRE draft directive Article 24 of the Commission’s proposal “ The Commission shall, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 30(2), adopt implementing rules to increase the potential of re-use of spatial data sets and services by third parties. These implementing rules may include the establishment of common licensing conditions” PSI directive not adequate? Risk of intransparency Disappeared in Council discussion, amended in Parliament Reason for dissapearing?

Transparante overheidsinformatie als competitief voordeel voor Vlaanderen INSPIRE and the PSI directive Public task versus commercial activities A clear demarcation is difficult… Changing role of government in society National and cultural differences Competition law Other sectors What if commercial activities áre a public task? What if public tasks are commercialised? … but necessary for true complementarity between INSPIRE and the PSI directive

Transparante overheidsinformatie als competitief voordeel voor Vlaanderen INSPIRE and the PSI directive Thank you for your attention.