Funding from the European Union (EU) plays a crucial role in ensuring that official pan-European geospatial data can support the development of Digital Europe’s Data Spaces. In its response to the programme’s stakeholder consultation, EuroGeographics, the not-for-profit organization representing Europe’s National Mapping, Cadastral, and Land Registration Authorities (NMCAs), emphasized that reliable, authoritative data is just as vital as the infrastructure underpinning these data spaces.
The association further warned that without sustainable, long-term funding mechanisms tied directly to EU policy objectives, future innovations like the award-winning Open Maps for Europe service may no longer be viable.
Carol Agius, head of representation and stakeholder engagement at EuroGeographics, said, “Digital Europe funding has enabled our members to deliver harmonized pan-European open data from more than 40 countries through the Open Maps For Europe project. By driving innovation, market development and growth to support the digital economy, this supports the Open Data and re-use of Public Sector Information (PSI) Directive.”
Open Maps for Europe 2 initiative
She continued by explaining that with additional funding from the Digital Europe programme, EuroGeographics is expanding this work through the Open Maps for Europe 2 (OME2) initiative. Together with members from Belgium, France, Greece, Spain, and The Netherlands, the OME2 consortium is developing a new production process and technical specification to release a prototype for edge-matched, large-scale pan-European datasets covering 10 countries. This project is designed to tackle challenges related to accessing and licensing authoritative high-value geospatial data across Europe.
Agius also highlighted how OME2 supports the European Strategy for Data, particularly through the implementation of the Open Data and re-use of PSI Directive, the release of high-value datasets, and the evolution of the INSPIRE Directive towards the GreenData4All initiative. The project, she emphasized, showcases how demand for geospatial information across various common data spaces can be effectively met.
Breaking the funding barrier
Agius concluded by addressing a key challenge faced by organizations post-project: the need for sustainable funding to ensure the continuous release of up-to-date, harmonized, and easily accessible data of consistent or improved quality and quantity.
“Programmes supporting digital transition, such as Digital Europe, should provide the solution so it is disappointing that the future strategic funding is linked to different policy areas; there is no mention of open data or the provision of data for the Data Spaces. As a result, it is difficult for EuroGeographics and its members to link any future activity to the Digital Europe programme. This will stifle innovation, in particular the development of large-scale, high-value pan-European data from the European NMCAs, which OME2 feedback indicates is a stakeholder requirement.”
“If the European Commission would like further innovations within the data areas, there must be appropriate funding mechanisms that are directly linked to EU policy areas.”
In its submission, EuroGeographics also asked that particular importance is placed on Digital Europe’s response to stakeholder needs, as well as how it is adapting to the data requirements of business, citizens, and public administrations. It recommends that particular emphasis is put on the pan-European data requirements of these groups, which is beyond the national remit of NMCAs.
