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Access to Environmental Information

The purpose of this ENI SEIS II project component is to assess the status of e-government and open data readiness in the field of environment in the ENI East countries.

Based on this, EEA together with each ENI country designed a realistic, stepwise implementation Roadmap in line with EU and international developments and following the Shared Environmental Information System (SEIS) principles and the general objectives set up by the UNECE Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention).

Summary of activities

(1) Overview of existing initiatives, trends, common practices on e-government and open data and assessment of ENI East country status in these areas:

  • Overview of national and international practices, initiatives and trends on e-government and open data;
  • Six country reports following the model of the Open Data Maturity reports in Europe – with specific focus on the environmental domain; and based on the findings collected
  • Developing a national road map for each ENI country to assist further implementation of e-government and open-data initiatives in the environment and related areas.

(2) Regional meeting of EaP countries to discuss the findings of the studies (task 1) and facilitate the preparation of countries' roadmaps to ensure that environmental information is integrated with national e-government platforms and open data initiatives.

(3) Country actions:

  • Roundtables with national partners (e-government management, providers and users of environmental information) to discuss the draft maturity report, finalise the national road map and identify concrete steps for implementation.

(4) Regional event presenting key findings, good practices and brainstorming on future steps. Strong linkage with the work of the Aarhus convention Access to information Task Force:

(5) Visibility and awareness raising for the project deliverables and open data/e- government benefits for environment.

  • Raise awareness on the benefits of sharing environmental information and knowledge in close cooperation with UNECE WGEMA, Aarhus Convention/PRTR Protocol Secretariat, OSCE/Aarhus Centres, RECs etc.

Deliverables

National Event Regional Event

Knowledge resources

Current initiatives and projects implemented in the EU served as basis for extending and guiding this work in the ENI East countries. Among the relevant EU processes considered in this context are the following:

Partners

The work is implemented by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Lithuania under contract with EEA. Contribution from local PwC offices in each ENI East country is ensured. In implementing this activity EEA works closely with the Secretariat of the UNECE Aarhus Convention and Protocol on PRTR.

The EEA contact point is , Project manager.