Report on the role of land surveyors and associated regulatory framework workshop, Vilnius, March 2006 Saulius Urbanas, NLS of Lithuania

Page 2 The workshop objectives  to overview levels of responsibilities of land surveyors in maintenance of cadastre  to understand legal and organizational frameworks within which land surveyors operate (are they licensed or not, are they in private or public sector, is their ‘code of practice’ and associated legislation, etc)  to draw a list of common characteristics and trends in national regulations that shall be followed regarding to activities of land surveyors;  to share best practice on public – public, public – private collaboration  to review an impact of new EU regulations (Directive on the recognition of professional qualification, proposal for directive on services in the internal market, etc

Page 3 Attendees  39 participants from 16 countries  EC - DG Internal Market and Services  International surveyors associations (CLGE, Geometer Europas)  National surveyors associations  NMCAs, Ministries

Page 4 Role of a surveyor  Major responsibility of land surveyor is technical – e.g. to execute cadastral measurements  Public / private  Commercial (profit) vs public duties  Sometimes a surveyor acts as a lawyer, valuator, controller or “validator”  A surveyor always is a mediator between parties (land owners and the State)  PPP facilitate and move forward surveyor’s activities

Page 5 Liberalisation and globalisation  Impact of EU directives: Directive on the recognition of professional qualification Proposal directive on Services in the internal market  Surveyor’s market cannot remain isolated.  “European” demands toward an implementation of the directives: a network of EU national coordinating bodies is necessary each country defines national requirements for surveyor’s activities

Page 6 Follow up - 1  To maintain an inventory on general information about requirements for surveyors

Page 7 Follow up -2  To maintain common characteristics of land surveyors qualification requirements; compulsory insurance for indemnity against to a loss for third parties; combination of technical and legal aspects; a need of national coordinating structures (Chamber or Association)  Recommendations, guidance and ‘best practice’ for NMCAs developing national organisational and legal frameworks

Page 8 Follow up - 3  Watch debates and to actively participate in discussions on relevant EU legislations that might impact a maintenance of cadastre and land surveyors activities accordingly  Continue and develop an dialogue between NMCAs and “professional communities” (GE, CLGE, WPLA, …)  Fulfill the gap tackling issues on surveyors activities from the position of cadastral (public) authorities