Corfu, 10 December 2003

Public sector information: a key resource for Europe

Yvo VolmanEuropean Commission

For citizens:• Bringing citizens closer to administrations

• Important in the democratic process

For business:• Essential to make business strategies• Crucial for taking advantage of the internal

market rights• Source for new information products

(aggregation)

Importance of PSIImportance of PSI

PSI is prime content resource Barriers at European level Disadvantages vis-à-vis US Some countries move ahead, others

do not

What is at stake?What is at stake?

The barriersThe barriers

• Lack of clear rules and policies

• Mindset public sector bodies

• Unfair competition

• Lack of transparency

• High charges

Difficulties to make European products

Green Paper published Green Paper published 20 January 199920 January 1999

Discussions with Discussions with stakeholdersstakeholders

Information industries Information industries strongly advocate a strongly advocate a Directive on exploitationDirective on exploitation

The October 2001 CommunicationThe October 2001 Communication

• Part of eEurope 2002 package

• Coherent strategy

• Directive announced

Can we find a European way?

The Proposal for a DirectiveThe Proposal for a Directive• Minimum harmonisation to facilitate cross-border use

• Transparency of conditions

• Avoid abuse of market power

• Non-discrimination

• Clear procedures

Proposal adopted on 5 June 2002 after online consultation

Some issuesSome issues

• Market legislation, not freedom of information legislation

• Intellectual property rights of public sector bodies

• Charges

• Practical burden on administrations

The ProcessThe Process• Co-decision procedure

• Parliament vote in first reading: 12 February 2003– marginal costs as a principle?

• Council Common Position: 26 May 2003– internal discussions in all MS

Adoption and signatureAdoption and signature• Parliament vote in second reading 25 September 2003. It

adds:– practical tools facilitating re-use

– obligation for PSBs to provide calculation base for charges

– transparency of means of redress

• Signature and publication

18 months for transposition after publication OJ

The ResultsThe Results• Transparency, fair competition, downward effect on charges

• First time legislation in some EU-countries

• Speed up developments in others

• Review clause

• Recitals go beyond legal obligations

Change of culture in public sector

ConclusionConclusion• Healthy cross-border content market important for information

society

• Public sector information is substantial component of this market

• Barriers prevent full impact on economic activity and employment

• Directive will create minimum of legal security and will stimulate investment