European Commission praises the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) at pan-European ePSIplus conference in Brussels.

The focus of the conference was on the European Commission’s formal Review of the implementation of a European Directive on the Re-use of Public Sector Information (PSI) .

 
OPSI’s initiatives mean that the UK is leading the way across Europe in the re-use of PSI. Re-use of PSI , both by the information industry and citizens, is key to the growth of the knowledge-based economies across Europe.

 Carol Tullo , Director of OPSI said, “In the digital age we need to recognise that information can be presented in many diverse and exciting ways. And information from the public sector does not have to be delivered by a public provider. The initiatives we have launched in OPSI have been designed to encourage the supply, sharing and re-use of PSI.”

OPSI , uniquely across Europe, provides a strong focal point for PSI co-ordination and resolution of complaints. Commending the value of this central role Javier Hernandez-Ros, Head of Unit, European Commission Digital Libraries and Public Sector Information , said “We need an OPSI in every single member state”.

The benefits of having an organisation that investigates complaints, such as OPSI in each of the member states was also acknowledged. One conference observer remarked, “Given the high costs of litigation, the cost of taking action through the courts could easily outweigh the entire annual budget for running OPSI.”

The web is key to unlocking the potential of PSI. By embracing new web technologies and social networking, the UK improves access to information and more effective information management.  At the heart of these initiatives is the need to ensure citizens have access to PSI and the ability to use that information in new and innovative ways.

Jennifer Rigby , Head of The National Archives IT Strategy and Chair of the Metadata & Vocabularies Working Group, UK explains, “By making information re-usable in flexible ways, such as data-mashing, the market can drive innovation so we can provide online services against a backdrop of endless possibilities.”

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