1. GINIE workshop on SDIs: WG1: Coordination & Organisation Lessons form existing SDIs shows that: – Strong multi-sector coordination is important – Legislation is often helpful to build momentum – Must be sustained over time to overcome agency’s silos mentality – Must provide technical support as well as leadership – Must nurture sustained political support – Must help make the SDI relevant to other stakeholders, demonstrate benefits, help with seed funding – Must disseminate and enforce common standards.

2. For a European SDI…… There is a need for a coordinating body at the European level to make it happen Priority areas: – Support the development of National SDIs through information sharing, comparative studies with common methodology, institutional capacity building – Technical advice and support + technology watch – Promote international standards – Education and awareness + dissemination of demonstration projects, quick win implementations in driving themes such as environment and e-government

3. Who should be in it? EC and other EU institutions Private Sector Member States NSDIs and relevant pan-European orgs. Citizen organisations (e.g. NGOs, Friends of the Earth, etc. ) Relevant thematic applications and priorities, with strong link to e-government

4. Structure The Coordinating body does not need to be big (FGDC = 15 staff) But also need for a broader reference group Authoritative in the professional communities and national constituencies. Own budget