Action 3.1. GreenData4all initiative

Context

The European Green Deal recognized the potential of digitalisation and the availability of data as essential enablers of the changes needed for a just, green transition. The EU Strategy for data (COM/2020/66 final) announced in 2020 a common European Green Deal data space, to use the major potential of data in support of the Green Deal priority actions on climate change, circular economy, zero-pollution, biodiversity, deforestation and compliance assurance. GreenData4All was announced in the EU Strategy for data to support the development of a European Green Deal data space. The revision of the INSPIRE Directive is part of the GreenData4All initiative. Furthermore, more recently the Political Guidelines for the Commission 2024 – 2029 proposes a European Data Union Strategy to enhance productivity in the EU through digital technology diffusion and the utilisation of open data. By enhancing digital infrastructure, the Commission aims to ensure that businesses and public services can efficiently leverage new technologies.

The GreenData4All initiative has the aim to evaluate and revise the INSPIRE (Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community) Directive (2007/2/EC) . The specific objectives are to:

(i) align the legal framework with more recent and emerging data legislation under the European strategy for data; this will ensure coherence regarding data reuse schemes between the legislation on data sharing (data governance act, open data Directive) and the INSPIRE Directive;

(ii) modernise the data regime in line with technological and innovation opportunities and reduce current implementation burden. The INSPIRE Directive is 16 years old . The objective is to update obsolete or burdening technology provisions or archaic processes;

(iii) strengthen the existing EU legislation by extending the current data scope of the INSPIRE Directive to also include non-spatial, citizen science and business data, building on the mechanisms of data altruism foreseen in the proposal for a data governance act;

(iv) “Lisbonise” the INSPIRE Directive.

The policy options will be developed based on the findings of the 2022 evaluation of the INSPIRE Directive and the analysis in the impact assessment. 

Proposed action

The Commission will inform the MIG on the progress of the impact assessment and consult the MIG, as key stakeholder community,  on the problem statement, drivers, possible measures and policy options.  

Organisational set-up

The action will be led by DG ENV.

Tasks

Outcomes

• Commission evaluation Staff Working Document.
• Impact Assessment and if politically desired, a proposal to update the legal framework.