Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2006-06-12-Speech-1-141"
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"en.20060612.19.1-141"2
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".
Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, environmental policy is without a doubt one of the EU’s biggest successes, and Community legislation is essential in order to tackle the major environmental challenges Europe is facing. Better access to spatial information is of key importance if we want to involve the public more in the implementation of environmental policy at all administrative levels. As you know, we want to use INSPIRE to set up an infrastructure for spatial information in Europe in which the exchange and sharing of data between governments is paramount.
It also wants to be, of course, the driving force behind collating new relevant environmental information and eventually, it will also be an instrument to make environmental policy more efficient and effective across the borders. Existing data infrastructures and existing environmental information in the Member States will, after all, be better harmonised and also made intelligible at EU level. This proposal has its sights on both information that is required to monitor the state of the environment and information improving that state. In my view, all policy decisions that impact on the environment, either directly or indirectly, stand to benefit from this.
Allow me to give you a few examples. In order to protect the citizens against floods – and that is something that Mr Seeber as rapporteur will be able to confirm in a moment – the standardisation and exchange of data on river basins, water courses and risks are invaluable. We will also be able to monitor and be prepared for forest fires, like those we have seen in southern Europe, provided we have data on soil types, vegetation, humidity levels and wind direction. Similarly, on the basis of data on migration of fish shoals, the warmth of the water and pollution, a better balance can be struck between the needs of the fishing industry on the one hand and the continued existence of certain fish species on the other.
Finally, in the context of bird flu, for example, as we are experiencing it, or not yet, hopefully, our joint reaction could be even more efficient if data on poultry farms, wild fauna and migratory birds across the borders were to be made available. In a number of other major European projects, such as GMIS, too, the added value is considerable, since INSPIRE can be the supplier of data that is needed to set up, within GMIS, an operational global information system for monitoring the environment and safety.
Enough, though, about INSPIRE’s importance and added value for those who were still in any doubt about this. I should like to say a few words about the procedure, because about a year ago, we approved the report at first reading almost unanimously in this Chamber. At the end of the Luxembourg Presidency, the Council reached political agreement and the common position followed in January of this year. In the report at second reading, as we are discussing it today, the Commission on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety once again emphasised a few elements which we regard as very important but which were scrapped in the common position. Let me list the most important ones for you.
To us, the search services and consultation services for the public are vital and should, in principle, be free. Downloading for free is not an issue. It is possible, but not compulsory. The possibility to build in click licences remains, and for the sake of clarity: the sale of, for example, maps or atlases remains unaffected. Parliament is also opposed to endless analyses and additional feasibility studies so as not to overwhelm INSPIRE in advance. Also, the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Safety takes the view that intellectual property rights on the part of government bodies cannot be an argument for refusing access to environmental data. When data is exchanged between government services, compensation or licences are not ruled out. The proposal even provides for the fact that the financial viability of government bodies should be of concern to the Member States.
Along with my fellow shadow rapporteurs, whom I would like to thank warmly for the very constructive cooperation in this very difficult and very technical dossier, I therefore regret that we failed to reach agreement with the Council at second reading. Despite this, an open and honest dialogue in the general interest should be possible, even during a conciliation procedure, and I think that this report is an excellent starting point. I would once again like to thank the Committee and all fellow Members for their support."@en1
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