The European Shared Environmental Information System Meropi Paneli European Commission

1. The European Shared Environmental Information System Meropi Paneli European Commission Environment DG Sustainable Development and Integration Directorate ePSIplus, Brussels, June2008

2. What is SEIS? • A collaborative initiative of the European Commission and the European Environment Agency (EEA) • Establish together with the MSsan integrated and shared EU-wide environmental information system. • Tie in better all existing data gathering and information flows related to EU environmental policies and legislation using modern tools such as the internet, GIS and satellite technology. • Move away from paper-based reporting to a modern e-Reporting system based on a SEIS • Put into practice the principle 'monitor once for timely and multi-purpose uses' • Make environmental information more readily available and easier to understand to policy makers and the public

3. Because EU Policy makers at all levels (local to European) are convinced that better decisions need better and more timely information • Because EU Member States deserves a modern, efficient and user friendly e-Reporting System to fulfil their reporting obligations related to European Union environmental policies and legislation, avoiding duplication of efforts, overlapping and redundancies Why is SEIS needed? Once a Shared Environmental Information System exists all players can efficiently share information via shared areas The current fragmented reporting system

4. What benefits will SEIS bring? • Better regulation, better policy • Empowering citizens • Simplification and Efficiency • Promoting Europe globally • Boosting Innovation and Intelligent eServices: eEurope, eGovernment, eEnvironment SEIS: Good decisions need the right information at the right time

5. How will SEIS be built? A European Programmefor SEIS February 2008: SEIS Commission Communication • Establish a Political Framework for SEIS • Set-up conceptual principles of SEIS: • decentralised : data stored as close to source as possible • but integrated system • Practical measures to facilitate the implementation of SEIS SEIS: Connecting systems, Connecting people for a better Environment

6. Reinforce the co-ordination of ongoing activities at European, national and regional level in line with SEIS • Ensure SEIS, INSPIRE, GMES are mutually supportive • Include SEIS in the eGovernment National Action Plans -Effectively liaise with Aarhus Convention Implementation and Directive - EEID (2003/4/EC) • Revision of standardised reporting directive to move towards an eReporting based on SEIS • Develop a SEIS Implementation Road map - Task Force: EC, EEA, MSs • Use of Community funds (structural, CIP, eContent LIFE+, Research) to complement MSs funding or building blocks of SEIS SEIS Implementation Plan: key elements Political commitment: Council Conclusions (October 2008) Practical measures to facilitate the implementation of SEIS

7. Paper reporting to be replaced by obligation to make information available using web-based technology • Obligation to provide national registers providing access to the required information • Periodicity of information obligations to be reviewed; in some case replace by obligation to keep information up-to-date • Streamlining/simplification/repeal of reporting obligations where appropriate Legal proposal: key elements

8. PILOTS Development and Prototyping of INSPIRE technical specifications for air, water, waste and biodiversity Environmental Monitoring Facilities (2007-08) Goal: 1. Prepare metadata and data specifications for the INSPIRE spatial data theme "Environmental Monitoring Facilities", EMF related to the environmental acquis in the areas of waste, water, biodiversity and air. 2. Implement and demonstrate INSPIRE Network Services based on the INSPIRE metadata, data specifications and service standards Outcome: i) Metadata and data profile(s) of the INSPIRE technical specifications, ii) Register of relevant LMO, iii) EMF metadata and data on-line (similar to http://www.eea.europa.eu/maps/ozone/map)

9. Development and demonstration of technical IT solutions for data exchange and reporting under the CAFE Directive using INSPIRE services (2008-09) Goal: • Implement data services, that fulfil the requirements of the draft • Implementing Provisions for the CAFE Directive integrated with the applicable requirements in the INSPIRE Directive and draft INSPIRE IR in the field of air quality; • Provide feedback from different geographic areas and levels of governance to the EC, DEG, EEA and MS to support the implementation of the CAFE and INSPIRE. Outcome: i) metadata for air quality data, ii) data model for air quality and transformations iii) Reporting prototype

10. Shared Environmental Information System (SEIS) –Monitoring Capacity: Baseline and Evolution Study (2008-10) Goals: 1. Provide a baseline assessment of the operational capacity of the 27 MS to collect data for implementation of the environmental acquis including reporting obligations, and the integration of environmental concerns in other policies. 2. Undertake a comparative analysis and fitness for purpose assessment 3. Propose alternative policy options for SEIS to overcome lack of comparability and quality of data and assess cost-benefits Outcome: i) Design and populate database of operational programmes + SDIs to collect data relevant to implementation of env. policy in MS ii) Comparative analysis and fitness for purpose assessment via survey of user organizations undertaking EIA/SEAs, iii) Identification of policy options and delivery mechanisms (regulatory or non) and impact assessment

11. "If liberty and equality, as is thought by some, are chiefly to be found in democracy, they will be best attained when all persons alike share in the government to the utmost."Aristotle http://ec.europa.eu/environment/seis/index.htm  ENV-SEIS@ec.europa.eu Thank you!