The European

Shared Environmental Information System

Meropi Paneli

European Commission Environment DG Sustainable Development and Integration Directorate

ePSIplus, Brussels, June2008

What is SEIS? A collaborative initiative of the

European Commission and the European Environment Agency (EEA)

Establish together with the MSs an 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

Why is SEIS needed?

The current fragmented reporting system

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

EuroStat EC EEA OECD UNEP

ETC

DG

DG

National institutions

Users

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EuroStat EC EEA OECD UNEP

National institutions

ETCDGDG

Sharedarea

Users

UNECEWHOothers...

Users

Once a Shared Environmental Information System exists all players can efficiently share information via shared areas

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

How will SEIS be built?

A European Programme for 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

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 Implementation Plan: key elements

Political commitment: Council Conclusions (October 2008)

Practical measures to facilitate the implementation of SEIS

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

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

Legal proposal: key elements

• 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

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PILOTSPILOTSDevelopment and Prototyping of INSPIRE technicalspecifications for air, water, waste and biodiversity EnvironmentalMonitoring 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 tohttp://www.eea.europa.eu/maps/ozone/map)

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Development and demonstration of technical IT solutions for dataexchange and reporting under the CAFE Directive usingINSPIRE 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 transformationsiii) Reporting prototype

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Shared Environmental Information System (SEIS) –MonitoringCapacity: 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 datarelevant to implementation of env. policy in MSii) Comparative analysis and fitness for purpose assessment via survey of userorganizations undertaking EIA/SEAs,iii) Identification of policy options and delivery mechanisms (regulatory or non) andimpact assessment

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/seis/index.htm

ENV-SEIS@ec.europa.eu

Thank you!Thank you!

"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

"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