Brussels, 24/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - The Commission has decided to take Poland before the EU Court of Justice for incorrect implementation of an EU directive on the re-use of public sector information (PSI), such as digital maps, meteorological, legal, traffic, financial, economic and other data. Such public sector information can be re-used in products and services like car navigation systems, weather forecasts and financial and insurance services, and is estimated to be worth at least €27 billion every year (according to a 2006 study undertaken for the Commission). The EU public sector information directive, adopted in 2003, requires member states to ensure that such information is made available and that the public sector and those who could be interested in using this data are made aware of their rights and obligations. In June 2009, the Commission asked Poland to take the necessary steps to comply with the directive, but Poland did not respond.
Generally speaking, the Commission noted in its review of the PSI directive published on 7 May 2009 that a large part of European public sector information, from statistics to traffic information, was not yet re-used. The European digital agenda, one of the flagship initiatives taken as part of EUROPE 2020 strategy, underlines the importance and value of PSI and announces review of the directive for 2012. (I.L./transl.jl)