Researcher and consultant in the domains of geospatial data, data infrastructures and digital transformation

EU policy initiatives

This page provides an overview of some recent EU initiatives to which support was provided through studies, trainings and consultancy activities.

Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community (INSPIRE)

The INSPIRE Directive aims to create a European Union Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) for the purposes of EU environmental policies and policies or activities which may have an impact on the environment. This European Spatial Data Infrastructure enables the sharing of environmental spatial information among public sector organisations, facilitates public access to spatial information across Europe and assists in policy-making across boundaries. INSPIRE is based on the infrastructures for spatial information established and operated by the Member States of the European Union. The Directive addresses 34 spatial data themes needed for environmental applications.

The INSPIRE Directive lays down general rules for the establishment of an Infrastructure for Spatial Information in Europe, in support of the Community environmental policies and policies or activities which may have an impact on the environment.The Directive was published in the official Journal on the 25th April 2007 and entered into force on the 15th May 2007. Read more about this Directive.

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EU Approach for Space Traffic Management

In light of an increasingly congested space, there is a compelling need to act in order to maintain space as a resource for future generations. Space Traffic Management aims at keeping space operations safe, space orbits usable, and space accessible for decades to come while ensuring and further fostering the competitiveness of the EU industry.

To this end, the EU approach to Space Traffic Management proposed by the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR/VP) aims at enhancing capabilities, norms and engagement while preserving EU interests in line with the respective competencies of the Union and its Member States. It calls for an EU contribution to this global challenge along four key lines of action: 1) Assessing STM requirements and impacts for the EU; 2) Enhancing operational EU SST capabilities to support STM; 3) Fostering STM regulatory aspects and 4) Promoting the EU STM approach at a global level. Read more about the EU Approach for STM.

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European Location Interoperability Solutions for e-Government (ELISE)

Location information underpins policy assessment, digital services and applications for public administrations, businesses and citizens. However, interoperability barriers hinder the optimal performance of underlying ICT systems and obstruct economic value creation from location information. To address this need, the European Location Interoperability Solutions for e-Government (ELISE) Action was a package of legal/policy, organisational, semantic and technical interoperability solutions that aimed to facilitate more efficient and effective digital cross-border or cross-sector interaction and data re-use in the domain of location information and services.

ELISE aimed to break down barriers and promote a coherent and consistent approach to the sharing and reusing of location data across sectors and borders in the context of the digital transformation of public services. ELISE built on top of the EULF and ARE3NA actions funded under the former ISA programme. Read more about ELISE.

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European Union Location Framework (EULF)

As part of the Interoperable Solutions for European Public Administrations (ISA) Programme of the EU, the European Union Location Framework (EULF) was developed as an EU-wide, cross-sector interoperability framework for the exchange and sharing of location data and services. The purpose of EULF was to help ‘location-enable’ e-government, by providing a framework for assessment and action for exchange and sharing location information, relevant to all sectors and across borders, using INSPIRE in new situations, delivering ‘location’ interoperability alongside the other ISA actions.

The EULF consisted of a package of recommendations, guidance, methodologies, case studies, training, pilots and collaborative action required by public administrations and stakeholder communities to facilitate the free flow of location data and ensure its effective use in e-government services. The EULF would complement and extend the implementation of INSPIRE to facilitate the introduction and use of the infrastructure in new thematic sectors. EULF activities were focused on five priority areas, agreed with Member States: policy and strategy alignment, e-Government integration, standardisation and interoperability, return on investment and effective governance and partnerships. Read more about the EULF

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Large-Scale Skills Partnerships

The Pact for Skills is one of the flagship actions of the European Skills Agenda. The Pact aims to strengthen collective action on skills development by all stakeholders through skills partnerships. At EU level, Large-Scale Skills Partnerships (LSPs) set up a shared engagement model for collective action where major players in industrial ecosystems and value or supply chains, including associations, relevant public authorities and SMEs, commit to cooperate and invest to provide upskilling and reskilling opportunities for people of working age in the whole industrial ecosystem.

Within the Aerospace & Defence ecosystem, two Large-Scale Skills Partnerships have been established, including the Large-scale Skills Partnership for the space sector dedicated to data, services and applications. Aim of this partnership is to promote the up-skilling and re-skilling of the workforce and attract new talent to the downstream space and geoinformation sector.

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