The role of Geographic Information within the evolving European Union Chris Corbin EUROGI ISSS-LORIS March 2004

A view of multi lingual, multi cultural Europe from space! Chris Corbin March 2004 ISSS-LORIS Europe is the location of the EUROGI network of over 6000 members 453 million people in 25 countries working and living together in peaceful harmony

Europe Sq. kms.Population Countries (millions) (millions) UK EU EU EU Europe World , Chris Corbin March 2004 ISSS-LORIS

WebCastle: A world 1st! - Congratulations GINIE/CAGI/VSB Chris Corbin March 2004 ISSS-LORIS

The European Union Member State 1Member State 25 MS 1: Regional Govt. MS 25: Regional Govt. MS 1: Local Govt. MS 25: Local Govt. European Parliament European Council of Ministers European Commission Other European Union Institutions Principle of Subsidiarity Chris Corbin March 2004 ISSS-LORIS

The European Union Lisbon Strategy In March 2000 at the Lisbon summit the EU Heads of State and Government set a goal for the EU over the next decade to become: The most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world, capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion. (by March 2010!) Chris Corbin March 2004 ISSS-LORIS

EU Lisbon Strategy continued The strategy focuses on: developing a more competitive and innovative EU economy. creating more and better jobs. giving all a greater stake in our society. protecting our environment. It is all about PEOPLE and their activities! Chris Corbin March 2004 ISSS-LORIS

EU Lisbon Strategy continued Chris Corbin March 2004 ISSS-LORIS Building the EU Information Society and Knowledge Economy Liberalisation of Telecommunications Liberalisation of Data Liberalisation of Services PSI Directive

EU Public Sector Information Directive Directive 2003/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 November 2003 on the re-use of public sector information. (Published in the Official Journal of the European Union L (Pages 90 to 96)) The PSI Directive is a legal instrument (at the macro economic level) which has the objective of stimulating the internal market by introducing a general framework for the conditions governing the re-use of public sector documents. Chris Corbin March 2004 ISSS-LORIS

Public Sector data holdings within an EU Member State Chris Corbin March 2004 ISSS-LORIS Level 1 Member State level (Central government, Federal government) Level 2 Regional, Provincial level (Regions, States, Cantons, Lander) Level 3 Local level (Local government, municipalities, health, schools, emergency services, police, law courts, social services) Operating horizontally is the challenge!

Public Sector within the EU continued Public Sector data holdings within EU (200,000 organisations!) Chris Corbin March 2004 ISSS-LORIS Level 1 Member State level Level 2 Regional, Provincial level Level 3 Local level Level 1 Member State level Level 2 Regional, Provincial level Level 3 Local level European Union Level 0

PSI Directive - key aspects The need for the PSI Directive:  To support the internal (EU) market through the provision of a legal framework that sets out the conditions by which public sector information can be reused.  To open up all across Europe the public sector data which is hidden in data vaults (in data islands) to the detriment of both the:  The Public sector  Society at large  To reduce the burden on the private sector.  To reduce through the minimal level of harmonisation the variability across the European Union. i.e. enable the data market to operate at the pan European level.  To support efficient Government as well as eGovernment. Chris Corbin March 2004 ISSS-LORIS

EU PSI Directive - key aspects The Directive will bring benefit in the following areas:  Improve Data sharing within the public sector;  Ease the burden on the private sector, research sector and the citizen in finding and using data;  Will improve the quality of data through secondary use which will benefit the primary data user. I.e. public sector;  Will trigger a cultural change and as a result lead to more efficient Government by less administration, fewer legal challenges;  Reduced costs in data production and maintenance without impact on quality. Chris Corbin March 2004 ISSS-LORIS

Releasing EU Public Sector Information: the 30 year story! REvIEwREvIEw EU PSI Directive ( broad) The probation period! Public sector transition period. Private sector opportunity to test and grasp the new opportunities. Political Chris Corbin March 2004 ISSS-LORIS Member States comply PSI directive came into force Started in 1987 may achieve its objectives by 2017: 30 Years!

eGovernment within the EU eGovernment is a sizeable market. In 2003 the EU15 public sector spent €69 billion on ICT. (rising to €73 billon in 2004) The ICT spend on eGovernment is growing rapidly at 15% p.a. Note: The spend on ICT is only a fraction of the total spending on eGovernment, since there is a significant accompanying investment in (re ‑ )organisation and training. Research of private companies indicates the spend is ten times that spent on ICT. (potential market value €300 billion) Source: The Role of eGovernment for Europe's Future. Brussels, COM(2003) 567 final. Chris Corbin March 2004 ISSS-LORIS

The EU eContent programme Current call for proposals opened 14 th Feb closes on 14 th May 2004 Action Line 1: Improving access to and use of public sector information at Sub line 1.1 Cross-border information services based on public sector information. Action Line 2: Enhancing the linguistic infrastructure. An opportunity to bring together WebCastle, MIDAS, Public Sector Information and eGovernment and equivalents elsewhere in the EU by submitting a proposal! Chris Corbin March 2004 ISSS-LORIS

In conclusion 2004 is a year of change. There are many EU Directives, communications, initiatives and projects. The impact of these upon geographic information is huge! The European GI community is finite! Therefore there is a need to focus. Suggest the key areas are: –The implementation of the PSI Directive. –Building upon our collective achievements and strengths. –Concentrate on GI capacity building projects. Chris Corbin March 2004 ISSS-LORIS

Finally! Thank you for your listening I and EUROGI look forward to working with you CAGI and all its members to strengthen and build up the GI network and Capacity within Europe. EUROGI wishes you a successful 2004 Chris Corbin March 2004 ISSS-LORIS