International Workshop on Seamless Access to Environmental Information in the EU - Building an Integrated Information Space for the Environment

The Directive on public access to environmental information (2003/4/EC) requires Member States to progressively make available environmental information and disseminate it to the public. The Directive had to be implemented in national legislation by the first quarter of 2005. Neither guiding material for its implementation is available as of yet, nor is there a harmonised and integrated approach visible throughout the EU.

To further the implementation of directive 2003/4/EC, the development and distribution of guidance material and tools are required. Considering the X-Domain and X-Level character of the environmental information sector, interoperability and integration are the key aspects for implementation. It is thus mandatory that information dissemination follows a structured approach on the basis of international standards. Furthermore, tools and services are needed to facilitate access.

Within a half-day workshop at the EnviroInfo 2007 in Warsaw interested participants discussed the strategy and the state-of-the-art of implementation in the EU member states. Key stakeholders presented their statements to structure and stimulate the discussion. This Workshop should be the kick-off workshop in a series of subsequent meetings that matter-of-factly decide upon means and mechanisms for a structured and harmonised "Integrated Information Space for the Environment", implementing the directive throughout the EU. At the end, scope and agenda for a Union-wide workshop should be elaborated, bringing together the main stakeholders on the occasion of EnviroInfo Lüneburg 2008.

The complete workshop information is available at the following reference site:
http://reference.e-government.gv.at/EnviroInfo_2007_Warschau.1378.0.html