Proposal for a DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL amending Directive 2007/2/EC as regards simplification of certain requirements for the establishment of the Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the Union
Date: 2025-12-10
Institutions: Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission
Subjects: EU environmental policy, administrative formalities, environmental impact, environmental protection, exchange of information, geographical information system, information network, information system, simplification of legislation, spatial data

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   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 10.12.2025  COM(2025) 985 final 2025/0393 (COD)  Proposal for a DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL amending Directive 2007/2/EC as regards simplification of certain requirements for the establishment of the Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the Union (Text with EEA relevance)  
 
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

1. 

• 

CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL 

Reasons for and objectives of the proposal 

‘The  Future  of  European  Competitiveness’  report  emphasised  that  the  transition  to  a  low-
carbon, resource-efficient, and circular economy will be essential for securing the EU's long-
term  economic  prosperity,  resilience,  and  competitiveness.3  With  the  Competitiveness 
Compass  for  the  EU,  the  Commission  presented  its  strategy  for  the  next  five  years  for 
unlocking the full potential of this transition.1  

Union legislation should deliver its policy objectives efficiently, effectively and transparently. 
The Competitiveness Compass promotes responsible law-making, announcing unprecedented 
efforts to simplify legislation to reignite the competitiveness of European business. Moreover, 
the  Commission  has  since  strengthened  targets  to  reduce  administrative  costs  for  business 
(together with public authorities) and Small and Medium sized Entreprises by 25% and 35% 
respectively (1). 
Directive  2007/2/EC2  (the  INSPIRE  Directive)  was  adopted  to  create  the  European  Spatial 
Data  Infrastructure  that  enables  the  sharing  of  environmental  spatial  information  among 
public sector organisations and improves public access to spatial information across Europe. 
The INSPIRE Directive has been crucial in overcoming obstacles such as missing or poorly 
described data, isolated spatial data infrastructures, barriers to sharing, duplicated efforts, and 
too many formats, so that maps and location data can be easily found, shared, and used across 
Europe.  
The  most  recent  evaluation  completed  in  20223  confirmed  that  while  the  objectives  of  the 
Directive  remain  highly  relevant,  the  legal  framework  could  be  simplified  and  made  more 
effective. 

This proposal seeks to modernise and simplify the INSPIRE Directive by removing technical 
requirements for data and data sharing and aligning its obligations with more recent horizontal 
EU  datal  legislation.  This  will  ensure  legal  coherence,  reduce  duplication  and  burden  on 
Member  States,  while  preserving  the  Directive’s  objectives  of  ensuring  the  accessibility, 
quality  and  interoperability  of  environmental  spatial  data.  This  approach  is  in  line  with  the 
2020 European strategy for data4 and the 2025 Data Union Strategy5 in terms of ensuring an 
over-arching policy framework for the data-agile economy and avoiding fragmentation of the 
internal  market.  The  2020  European  strategy  for  data6  announced  the  ‘GreenData4All’ 

1 

COM(2025)  47  final  of  11  February  2025,  A  simpler  and  faster  Europe:  Communication  on 
implementation and simplification. 
Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 March 2007 establishing an 

Commission Staff Working Document Evaluation of Directive 2007/2/EC establishing an Infrastructure 

2 
Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community (INSPIRE) (OJ L 108, 25.4.2007, p. 1–14). 
3 
for Spatial Information in the European Community (INSPIRE) (SWD/2022/0195 final). 
4 
Communication  from  the  Commission  to  the  European  Parliament,  the  Council,  the 
European  Economic  and  Social  Committee  and  the  Committee  of  the  Regions  A  European 
strategy for data (COM/2020/66 final). 

5 

6 

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Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council Data Union Strategy 
Unlocking Data for AI (COM/2025/835 final). 

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initiative,  which  has  the  objective  to  modernise  the  INSPIRE  Directive  in  line  with 
technological  developments  and  innovation  opportunities,  with  a  view  to  supporting  the 
transition to a greener and carbon-neutral economy, and reducing administrative burden. 

Horizontal EU data legislation regulates the access to, reuse, interoperability, and governance 
of  public  sector  data  in  a  coherent  and  technologically  advanced  manner.  This  includes 
Directive  (EU)  2019/1024  (Open  Data  Directive)7  and  Implementing  Regulation  (EU) 
2023/138  (High-Value  Datasets)8,  Regulation  (EU) 2022/868  (Data  Governance  Act)9,  and 
Regulation  (EU)  2024/903  (Interoperable  Europe  Act)10.  Horizontal  EU  data  legislation 
structured  metadata,  mandatory  Application 
introduces  open-by-default  principles, 
Programming Interfaces (APIs) and where relevant as bulk download formats for high-value 
datasets, as well as a streamlined, common governance model for cross-border data use. 

More specifically, the Open Data Directive sets out in Article 1(7) that that Directive governs 
the re-use of existing documents held by public sector bodies and public undertakings of the 
Member States, including documents to which Directive 2007/2/EC applies.  

In addition, the EU’s objective of creating Common European Data Spaces set out in the 2020 
European  strategy  for  data,  includes  a  dedicated  Green  Deal  Data  Space  to  support  the 
European  Green  Deal;  this  requires  breaking  data  silos  and  ensuring  that  all  relevant 
environmental  data  –  spatial  and  non-spatial  –  can  flow  freely  to  inform  EU  environmental 
and  climate  objectives  and  reduce  administrative  burden  on  companies  and  public 
administrations.  

The  proposed  simplification  of  the  INSPIRE  Directive,  as  part  of  the  environmental 
simplification  omnibus,  constitutes  the  legal  component  of  the  GreenData4All  initiative.  It 
will be supported by non-legislative actions and practical tools to support smart and efficient 
reuse of environmental data across the Union.  

• 

Consistency with existing policy provisions in the policy area 

The  proposed  amendments  will  align  the  INSPIRE  Directive  with  EU  legislation  governing 
public  sector  data.  In  particular,  Directive  (EU)  2019/1024  and  Implementing  Regulation 
(EU) 2024/903, have introduced requirements for free and open availability of data, including 
application programming interfaces (APIs), for key datasets in categories such as geospatial 
and environmental data. Notably, the high-value datasets defined under that framework were 
selected to match the data sets already covered by the INSPIRE Directive.  
The Digital Omnibus proposal11 includes the consolidated and streamlined rules of Regulation 
(EU)  2024/1689  (Free  Flow  of  Data  Regulation),  Regulation  (EU)  2022/868  (Data 

Directive (EU) 2019/1024 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on open data 

7 
and the re-use of public sector information (OJ L 172, 26.6.2019, p. 56–83). 
8 
Commission  Implementing  Regulation  (EU)  2023/138  of  21 December  2022  laying  down  a  list  of 
specific high-value datasets and the arrangements for their publication and re-use (OJ L 19, 20.1.2023, p. 43–
75). 
9 
data governance and amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1724 (OJ L 152, 3.6.2022, p. 1–44). 
10 
Regulation  (EU)  2024/903  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of  13 March  2024  laying 
down measures for a high level of public sector interoperability across the Union (Interoperable Europe Act) (OJ 
L, 2024/903, 22.3.2024). 
11 

Regulation (EU) 2022/868 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2022 on European 

Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending  Regulations (EU) 
2016/679,  (EU)  2018/1724,  (EU)  2018/1725,  (EU)  2023/2854  and  Directives  2002/58/EC,  (EU) 
2022/2555 and (EU) 2022/2557 as regards the simplification of the digital legislative framework, and 
repealing  Regulations  (EU)  2018/1807,  (EU)  2019/1150,  (EU)  2022/868,  and  Directive  (EU) 
2019/1024 (Digital Omnibus), COM/2025/837 final. 

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Governance  Act)  and  Directive  (EU)  2019/1024  (the  Open  Data  Directive)  in  Regulation 
(EU)  2023/2854  (Data  Act),  creating  one  single  consolidated  instrument  for  Europe’s  data 
economy.  Regulation  (EU)  2024/1689)  (Free  Flow  of  Data  Regulation),  Directive  (EU) 
2019/1024 (Open Data Directive) and Regulation (EU) 2022/868 (Data Governance Act) will 
be  repealed.  That  consolidation  would  therefore  affect  the  references  in  this  proposal  to 
simplify  the  INSPIRE  Directive,  but  it  is  not  otherwise  affected  by  the  Digital  Omnibus 
proposal,  because  the  Commission  did  not  propose  relevant  substantive  changes  to  the 
solutions set out in the Open Data Directive.  

The  INSPIRE  Directive  provides  a  common  framework  and  technical  standards  needed  for 
sharing  and  integrating  spatial  data  across  sectors  and  borders  for  reporting,  policy 
implementation and decision making. Regulation (EU) 2019/1010 aligns reporting obligations 
in  the  field  of  environmental  legislation  and  provides  the  basis  for  aligning  reporting  data 
models with INSPIRE specifications12.  

The  application  of  the  INSPIRE  Directive  is  not  only  relevant  for  environmental  policy. 
Several  pieces  of  EU  legislation  refer  to  the  INSPIRE  Directive,  such  as  Regulation  (EU) 
2018/841  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council13  (LULUCF),  Regulation  (EU) 
2021/2116  of  the  European  Parliament  and  the  Council14  (Common  agricultural  policy), 
Regulation  (EU)  2018/109115  (integrated  farm  statistics),  Regulation  (EU)  2021/696  of  the 
European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council16  (Union  Space  Programme),  Directive  (EU) 
2024/2881  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council17  (Air  Quality  Directive),  and 
Regulation  (EU)  2024/1991  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  (Nature 
Restoration  Regulation)18, 
technical  formats, 

to  ensure  coherence,  e.g.  as  regards 

12 
Regulation  (EU)  2019/1010  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of  5  June  2019  on  the 
alignment  of  reporting  obligations  in  the  field  of  legislation  related  to  the  environment,  and  amending 
Regulations  (EC)  No  166/2006  and  (EU)  No  995/2010  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council, 
Directives 2002/49/EC, 2004/35/EC, 2007/2/EC, 2009/147/EC and 2010/63/EU of the European Parliament and 
of  the  Council,  Council  Regulations  (EC)  No  338/97  and  (EC)  No  2173/2005,  and  Council  Directive 
86/278/EEC (Text with EEA relevance), ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/1010/oj. 

13 
Regulation  (EU)  2018/841  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of  30  May  2018  on  the 
inclusion  of  greenhouse  gas  emissions  and  removals  from  land  use,  land  use  change  and  forestry  in  the  2030 
climate  and  energy  framework,  and  amending  Regulation  (EU)  No  525/2013  and  Decision  No  529/2013/EU 
(Text with EEA relevance), (OJ L 156, 19.6.2018, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2018/841/oj). 

14 
Regulation (EU) 2021/2116 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 2 December 2021 on the 
financing,  management  and  monitoring  of  the  common  agricultural  policy  and  repealing  Regulation  (EU) 
No 1306/2013, (OJ L 435, 6.12.2021, p. 187, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/2116/oj). 

15 
Regulation  (EU)  2018/1091  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of  18  July  2018  on 
integrated  farm  statistics  and  repealing  Regulations  (EC)  No  1166/2008  and  (EU)  No  1337/2011  (OJ  L  200, 
7.8.2018, p. 1–29). 

16 
Regulation (EU) 2021/696 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 April 2021 establishing 
the  Union  Space  Programme  and  the  European Union  Agency  for  the  Space  Programme  and  repealing 
Regulations (EU) No 912/2010, (EU) No 1285/2013 and (EU) No 377/2014 and Decision No 541/2014/EU, (OJ 
L 170, 12.5.2021, p. 69, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/696/oj). 

Directive  (EU)  2024/2881  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of  23  October  2024  on 

17 
ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe (OJ L, 2024/2881, 20.11.2024).  
18 
restoration and amending Regulation (EU) 2022/869 (OJ L, 2024/1991, 29.7.2024). 

Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2024 on nature 

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compatibility  of  procedures  for  the  transmission  and  processing  of  data  and  data 
specifications, with a view to avoiding duplication of effort.  

• 

Consistency with other Union policies 

The  proposal  is  fully  in  line  with  the  EU’s  horisontal  data  and  digital  policies,  as  regards 
promoting  easier  data  sharing  across  sectors,  and  supporting  the  creation  of  Common 
European Data Spaces like the Green Deal Data Space - with the aim of making high-quality, 
accessible, and reusable environmental data available to drive innovation, sustainability, and 
digital  transformation.  With  the  proposed  deletion  of  detailed  technical  requirements  for 
interoperability, network services and data sharing, the proposal is consistent with Regulation 
(EU)  2024/903  as  regards  the  aim  to  remove  technical  and  legal  barriers,  promote  common 
standards, and to ensure that public sector data - including geospatial and environmental data - 
can  be  easily  shared,  combined,  and  re-used  across  borders  and  sectors.  Moreover,  the 
proposed simplification will create flexibility in the implementation allowing for the adoption 
of  community  good  practices,  such  as  the  widely  recognised  Minimum  Interoperability 
Mechanisms (MIMs) developed by the Open & Agile Smart Cities community19, that promote 
the use of minimal, flexible standards, for example, lightweight web APIs and common data 
models, to achieve cross-border geospatial data interoperability.  

The proposed measures to simplify the INSPIRE Directive are consistent with Directive (EU) 
2019/1024  and  Implementing  Regulation  (EU)  2023/138  because  it  will  be  ensured  that 
geospatial and environmental data- are made available as open data, using common standards, 
APIs,  and  open  licenses,  thus  minimizing  duplication,  reducing  burdens  for  data  providers, 
and  maximizing  accessibility  and  re-use  for  all  users  through  data.europa.eu.  It  is  therefore 
also proposed to delete the obligation on the Commission to operate the Inspire geo-portal. 

The proposal is furthermore consistent with Regulation (EU) 2022/868 which facilitates wider 
sharing of public sector data (including data not openly published) via trusted intermediaries 
and  common  data  spaces,  by  ensuring  that  spatial  datasets  can  be  shared  under  clear 
conditions and via interoperable service solutions.  

In summary, this proposal aligns the INSPIRE Directive with the horisontal EU data policy, 
facilitating  open-by-default  data  reuse,  interoperability,  and  the  development  of  data-driven 
services across sectors. 

2. 

• 

LEGAL BASIS, SUBSIDIARITY AND PROPORTIONALITY 

Legal basis 

The legal basis for the INSPIRE Directive is Article 192(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning 
of  the  European  Union.  Article  192(1)  provides  the  legal  basis  for  measures  to  protect  the 
environment including the use of available data to inform environmental policy preparation. 

Main legal provisions and amendments  

The  proposal  is  a  Directive  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  amending 
Directive 2007/2/EC.  

The  INSPIRE  Directive  does  not  prescribe  uniform  open  licensing  or  charging  conditions, 
which results in inconsistent reuse conditions across Member States. It is therefore proposed 
to replace the obligations for Member States to establish specific network services, including 
discovery, view, download and transformation, with a reference to the parallel provisions in 

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Y-MIM Standard for Global Smart City Interoperability | Interoperable Europe Portal 

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Directive  (EU)  2019/1024  to  ensure  that  spatial  data  is  by  default  open  for  reuse  under 
harmonised conditions.  

It is proposed to delete the obligation on the Commission to operate a  geo-portal. Access to 
spatial  data  will  instead  be  made  available  via  the  EU’s  open  data  portal  (data.europa.eu), 
which serves as the central point of access for European public data.  

The obligations for metadata creation and data discovery set out in the INSPIRE Directive in 
Chapter  II  are  still  fit  for  purpose  and  allow  for  a  transfer  of  metadata  and  discovery 
functionality  from  the  INSPIRE  geo-portal  or  national  or  sub-national  geo-portals  to 
data.europa.eu.  

With  a  view  to  reducing  administrative  burden,  it  is  proposed  to  delete  the  reporting 
requirements set out in Article 21. Member States shall provide the Commission with a report 
on  the  measures  taken  to  implement  Implementing  Regulation  No  (EU)  2023/138.,  in 
accordance  with  Article  5  of  that  Regulation.  That  report  shall  include  a  list  of  datasets 
corresponding to the description of each high-value data set in the Annex to that Regulation, 
which  includes  33  out  of  34  INSPIRE  datasets,  and  with  online  reference  to  metadata  that 
follow existing standards, such as a single register or open data catalogue. It is therefore no 
longer necessary to maintain the reporting requirements in Directive 2007/2/EC.  

Directive (EU) 2019/1024 sets  out  that data is  open-by-default which also applies  to  spatial 
data, including spatial datasets defined under Directive 2007/2/EC. It is therefore proposed to 
delete  the  provision  on  data  sharing  in  the  INSPIRE  Directive.  Conditions  for  protecting 
sensitive  information,  such  as  national  security  or  personal  data,  are  also  clearly  defined  in 
Directive  (EU)  2019/1024,  Directive  2003/4/EC20  and  Regulation  (EU) 2022/868.  The 
proposal  therefore  simplifies  the  legal  framework  without  weakening  the  obligations 
concerning spatial data sharing between public authorities. 

As  a  consequence  of  the  amendments  set  out  above  in  relation  to  network  services, 
interoperability  and  data  sharing,  it  is  furthermore  proposed  to  repeal  the  following  related 
implementing  acts,  by  way  of  the  applicable  procedure,  and  to  delete  the  corresponding 
empowerments:  

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

Commission Regulation (EC) No 976/2009 as regards Network Services21 

Commission  Regulation  (EU)  No 1089/2010  on  interoperability  of  spatial  data  sets 
and services22, and  
Commission Regulation (EU) No 268/2010 on data and service sharing23. 

Commission  Implementing  Decision  (EU)  2019/1372  implementing  Directive 
2007/2/EC as regards monitoring and reporting24. 

20 
Directive  2003/4/EC  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of  28  January  2003  on  public 
access to environmental information and repealing Council Directive 90/313/EEC (OJ L 41, 14.2.2003, p. 26–
32). 

Commission Regulation (EC) No 976/2009 of 19 October 2009 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of 

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the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the Network Services (OJ L 274, 20.10.2009, p. 9–18).  
22 
Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC 
of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services (OJ L 
323, 8.12.2010, p. 11–102). 
23 
Commission Regulation (EU)  No 268/2010 of  29 March 2010 implementing  Directive  2007/2/EC  of 
the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the access to spatial data sets and services of the Member 
States by Community institutions and bodies under harmonised conditions (OJ L 83, 30/03/2010, p. 8–9).  

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• 

Subsidiarity  

The  obligation  to  establish  an  European  Spatial  Data  Infrastructure,  building  upon 
infrastructures  established  and  operated  by  Member  States,  is  imposed  by  EU  law.  The 
simplification of related obligations is therefore best done at EU level to ensure legal certainty 
and consistency. This will ensure clarity for public administrations across the EU, which will 
be benefiting from the simplified requirements arising from this proposal. 

A  spatial  data  infrastructure  for  environmental  policy  and  policies  or  activities  that  have  an 
impact  on  the  environment  has  an  intrinsic  cross-border  and  pan-European  dimension. 
Individual Member States cannot adequately ensure interoperability and access to spatial data 
for EU-wide purposes.  

EU-level  action  is  justified  to  simplify  and  consolidate  a  common  interoperable  framework 
for spatial data. The proposal does not concern Member States’ competence to organise their 
internal  data  infrastructures,  so  long  as  the  common  objectives  (open  availability  and 
interoperability of certain spatial datasets) are achieved.  

• 

Proportionality  

The  proposal  aims  at  simplifying  the  legal  framework  by  introducing  changes  to  existing 
requirements that seek to reduce burden by deleting or amending provisions that have proven 
overly prescriptive or duplicative and which do not  affect  the substance of the wider policy 
objective  as  well  as  by  aligning  with  Directive  2019/1024  and  Regulation  2023/138.  The 
proposal  is  therefore  limited  to  those  changes  that  are  necessary  to  ensure  efficient 
implementation, simplification and relevant alignment with horizontal data legislation. 

3. 

RESULTS 
CONSULTATIONS AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS 

EX-POST 

EVALUATIONS, 

OF 

STAKEHOLDER 

Ex-post evaluations/fitness checks of existing legislation 

• 
The  2022  evaluation25  of  the  INSPIRE  Directive  found  that  it  has  significantly  advanced 
spatial  data  sharing  since  2007,  creating  efficiencies  through  the  application  of  FAIR 
principles  and  fostering  EU-wide  interoperability.  The  Directive’s  main  added  value  was 
found  to  lie  in  promoting  data  sharing  as  a  norm,  establishing  governance  structures, 
unlocking public sector data, improving transparency, and building EU-level expertise. It was 
found  to  be  particularly  relevant  for  supporting  the  Green  Deal  data  space,  environmental 
strategies, and environmental democracy through greater transparency. 

However, challenges remain. Implementation still faces technical and organisational barriers, 
with  interoperability  being  the  costliest  aspect.  The  current  framework  is  considered  overly 
detailed  and  not  sufficiently  technology-neutral,  which  reduces  flexibility  and  cost-
effectiveness.  Simplifying  the  interoperability  requirements  and  allowing  Member  States 
some discretion in applying data specifications would increase adaptability and help maintain 
relevance  in  the  light  of  technological  change.  The  INSPIRE  Directive  cannot  alone  ensure 
cross-border  and  cross-sector  data  usability,  requiring  additional  effort  to  render  data  into 
practical information.  

Commission  Implementing  Decision  (EU)  2019/1372  of  19  August  2019  implementing  Directive 

24 
2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards monitoring and reporting: 
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2019/1372/oj 

25 

SWD(2022)195 

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The INSPIRE Directive was found to be broadly coherent with environmental, open data, and 
access-to-information  legislation,  but  synergies  between  these  frameworks  could  be  better 
leveraged  to  support  active  dissemination  of  environmental  data.  Implementation  costs  are 
largely borne by national governments, with little burden on end users, and where cost-benefit 
analyses  were  carried  out,  results  aligned  with  expectations  from  the  original  ex-ante 
evaluation. 

Overall, the INSPIRE Directive was found to remain highly relevant for tackling obstacles to 
data sharing and addressing future data needs. But to increase its effectiveness, modernisation 
of the legal framework and improved practical implementation would be needed. 

• 

Stakeholder consultations  

The preparation of this proposal has been informed by extensive consultations with Member 
States’ authorities, data providers, data users, including businesses and NGOs, and the general 
public. The Open Public Consultation, which ran from 5 February - 30 April 2025, covered a 
broader  scope  than  the  present  simplification  proposal,  comprising  two  distinct  parts:  1)  a 
general  section  addressing  the  availability  and  accessibility  of  environmental  data  (375 
respondents),  and  2)  a  more  specific  section  concerning  simplification  of  the  INSPIRE 
Directive (227 respondents). This proposal  draws principally on the outcomes of the second 
part of the open public consultation, dedicated to the simplification of the INSPIRE Directive. 

375  respondents  replied  to  the  first  part  of  the  Open  Public  Consultation.  Public  authorities 
formed the largest group of respondents (150), followed by EU citizens (113), academic and 
research  institutions  (40),  companies  and  businesses  (27),  environmental  organisations  (9), 
business  associations  (8),  NGOs  (7),  non-EU  citizens  (6)  and  other  actors  (15).  Public 
authorities were mainly national-level bodies, while 250 respondents came for organisations 
with over 250 employees.  

Respondents dealt with environmental data in multiple roles. A total of 258 identified as data 
users, 195 as producers, and 143 as hosts or providers. Environmental data is primarily used 
for  research  and  development  (188  mentions),  public  awareness  and  education  (185), 
territorial  and  environmental  planning  (183),  policymaking  (170),  compliance  and  reporting 
(169),  business  decision-making  (92),  corporate  due  diligence  (76),  and  sustainability 
reporting (35). The most accessed data types included land use and land cover (258), climate 
and weather data (209), water quality and quantity (181), biodiversity (181), hydrology (171), 
forestry  (165),  agriculture  (160),  and  soil  quality  (153).  Data  is  most  commonly  accessed 
through downloading processed files (124), viewing services (102), and raw/API access (92).  

227  respondents  responded  to  the  second  part,  focused  on  simplification  of  the  INSPIRE 
Directive.  Regarding  alignment  between  the  INSPIRE  Directive  and  Directive  (EU) 
2019/1024,  there  was  strong  agreement  that  such  alignment  would  promote  wider 
accessibility  and  reuse  (133  strongly  agreed),  simplify  data-sharing  rules  (128),  and  reduce 
administrative  burdens  (111).  On  governance,  a  clear  majority  supported  integrating  the 
INSPIRE  Directive  under  a  common  EU  governance  framework  linked  to  horizontal 
legislation: 76 strongly supported this and 99 supported it, while only 22 were neutral and 22 
were  opposed.  However,  many  emphasised  the  need  to  safeguard  geospatial  expertise,  data 
quality, and interoperability standards.  

Respondents  saw  potential  benefits  in  standardisation,  quality  assurance  and  scalability 
through  APIs  and  cloud  services.  Concerns  centered  on  transparency,  governance, 
accountability,  security,  and  the  need  to  preserve  public  oversight  and  avoid  reliance  on 
opaque  private  platforms.  Regarding  the  continued  value  of  the  INSPIRE  Directive  as  a 
standalone instrument if fully aligned with horizontal legislation, views were mixed. While 91 

EN 

7 

  EN 

respondents  considered  it  highly  or  somewhat  valuable,  62  saw  limited  or  no  value,  and  35 
remained uncertain.  

25 individual attachments supplemented the consultation, of which 22 were directly relevant. 
These  contributions  highlighted  persistent  issues  such  as  differences  in  the  usability  and 
accessibility of data portals, inconsistencies in data quality, and cross-border access barriers. 
Many  advocated  for  a  federated,  coherent  European  platform  built  on  national  nodes, 
cautioning  against  commercialisation  or  paywalls.  Divergent  opinions  were  expressed  on 
citizen-generated  data,  with  support  contingent  on  clear  quality  and  validation  frameworks. 
Respondents  also  stressed  the  importance  of  funding,  capacity-building,  secure  exchanges, 
and  maintaining  geospatial  coherence  within  broader  EU  data  legislation,  such  as  Directive 
(EU) 2019/1024 and Regulation (EU) 2024/903. 

Member  States’  experts,  through  the  INSPIRE  Maintenance  and  Implementation  Group 
(MIG),  have  been  closely  involved  through  several  workshops  between  2022  –  2025.  The 
INSPIRE  Conference  2023  (participation  of  280  people  in  person  and  800  virtually, 
representing public authorities, business and academia) also discussed the possible evolution 
of the INSPIRE Directive. Mindful of investments already made in terms of implementation, 
there was broad agreement that the Directive’s legal requirements should not lock them into 
outdated  technologies  or  lead  to  duplication  of  efforts.  Some  Member  States  have  already 
piloted using their open data portal to satisfy INSPIRE discovery obligations, demonstrating 
feasibility.  Data  providers  often  face  capacity  constraints  and  fatigue  due  to  overlapping 
obligations.  The  MIG  echoed  the  results  of  the  open  public  consultation  to  maintain  a 
legislative basis for geospatial reference data, ensuring long-term standardisation, with a focus 
on not disrupting what works well, especially as regards metadata standards.  

• 

Collection and use of expertise 

During the preparation of the proposal, the Commission has made use of external expertise in 
the  form  of  a  support  study.  In  addition,  the  Joint  Research  Centre  (JRC)  has  provided 
multidisciplinary  analysis  on  the  state  of  implementation  of  the  INSPIRE  Directive  and 
possible future directions2627. The Commission  has also  taken into account  the 2016 REFIT 
evaluation  of  the  INSPIRE  Directive28  as  well  as  the  2022  evaluation29,  which  contained 
detailed evidence of what works and what does not. The evaluation  quantified the low uptake 
of some INSPIRE services and recommended integration with horizontal data legislation.  

• 

Impact assessment  

The  proposal  concerns  targeted  amendments  to  modernise  and  simplify  the  INSPIRE 
Directive  by  aligning  it  with  the  obligations  set  out  in  more  recent,  horizontal  EU  data 
legislation.  The  changes  aim  at  ensuring  a  more  efficient,  effective  and  less  burdensome 
implementation.  Due  to  the  targeted  nature  of  the  changes,  and  the  lack  of  relevant  policy 
options,  an  impact  assessment  is  not  necessary.  However,  the  staff  working  document 
accompanying the proposal includes quantification of expected savings as well as information 
about  continuation  of  the  established  coordination  mechanisms  at  EU  level  in  a  more  agile 
and less burdensome form.  

26 
27 

28 

29 

EN 

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC126319 
https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC139026 

Staff Working Document on the REFIT evaluation of the INSPIRE Directive (SWD(2016)273) 

See supra footnote 2.  

8 

  EN 

 
 
 
• 

Regulatory fitness and simplification 

Under the regulatory fitness and performance programme (REFIT), the Commission ensures 
that  its  legislation  is  fit  for  purpose,  targeted  to  the  needs  of  stakeholders,  and  minimises 
burdens while achieving its objectives.  

This proposal forms part of REFIT, responding to the findings of the 2022 evaluation of the 
INSPIRE  Directive,  which  identified  areas  of  excessive  administrative  burden  and  overly 
prescriptive technical requirements. The proposal simplifies the legal framework by deleting 
obligations  that  are  now  addressed  through  more  recent  horizontal  EU  data  legislation 
specifically, Directive (EU) 2019/1024, Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/138, Regulation 
(EU) 2022/868 and Regulation (EU) 2024/903. 

Notably, it is proposed to: 

– 

– 

– 

• 

Remove  duplicative  reporting  obligations,  reducing  compliance  workload  for 
Member States; 

Remove four empowerments for adoption of implementing rules for interoperability, 
network  services,  data  sharing  and  reporting  requirements  that  no  longer  reflect 
current  best  practices  or  standards,  thereby  removing  rigid  technical  requirements. 
The  four  implementing  acts  adopted  on  the  basis  of  the  empowerments  will  be 
repealed by separate adoption procedure (comitology).  

Integrate  spatial  data  access  into  another  existing  EU  infrastructure,  the  open  data 
portal (data.europa.eu), thereby simplifying user access and system maintenance and 
removing the obligation on the Commission to operate a geo-portal.  

Quantified impact of removing obligations 

The proposed amendments will benefit a wide range of stakeholders, including public sector 
data providers, national and regional authorities, businesses, research institutions, SMEs, and 
civil  society  organisations.  Public  sector  data  providers  will  see  reduced  administrative 
burden  and  simplified  compliance,  while  businesses  and  data  users  will  enjoy  improved 
access to high-value environmental data through open licensing and modern APIs.  

A  12-month  transposition  period  is  proposed  to  allow  Member  States  to  adapt  their 
infrastructures and to maintain service continuity during the migration to the new framework. 
The combined EU cost savings from the proposed simplification is expected to be substantial. 
The  annual  baseline  costs  for  implementation  of  the  INSPIRE  Directive  across  EU-27  are 
estimated at EUR 4.967–48.926 million.  

The  proposed  simplification  is  expected  to  reduce  administrative  burdens  by  24–64% 
compared  to  the  current  baseline.  The  lower  bound  of  24%  reflects  the  more  conservative 
estimates derived from stakeholder feedback during the validation workshop, which captured 
an immediate and pragmatic assessment of the potential impact. In contrast, the upper bound 
of 64% corresponds to the cost reductions identified through the full alignment scenario with 
Directive (EU) 2019/1024  

This is considered to represent the realistic range of expected savings from the simplification, 
particularly  those  savings  linked  to  the  annual  update  of  harmonised  datasets  and  the 
operation of publication and web services.  It translates into  annual  savings of roughly  EUR 
6.36–16.96  million,  based  on  the  average  annual  cost  component  for  updating  and 
maintaining datasets and services under INSPIRE. On average across the projected range, this 
corresponds  to  approximately  a  44%  annual  administrative  cost  reduction,  or  about  EUR 

EN 

9 

  EN 

11.66  million  in  yearly  savings.  These  savings  are  achieved  by  removing  the  complex 
technologies,  and  by 
harmonisation  requirements,  by 
consolidating infrastructure. 

leveraging  mainstream  web 

• 

Fundamental rights 

The proposal has no adverse impact on fundamental rights as enshrined in the EU Charter of 
Fundamental Rights. The proposed amendments concern the sharing of public sector spatial 
data  (non-personal,  environmental  and  geographical  information)  and  do  not  involve  the 
processing of personal data or any limitations on individuals’ rights. Directive 2007/2/EC in 
its  current  form  already  contains  safeguards  to  ensure  that  personal  data  and  sensitive 
confidential information are protected, e.g in Article 13.  

By  promoting  open  data  and  transparency,  the  proposal  is  consistent  with  Article  42  of  the 
Charter  (right  of  access  to  documents)  and  Article  37  (environmental  protection)  which 
implicitly  supports  access  to  environmental  information.  Citizens  will  continue  to  have  at 
least  the same access  to  spatial  environmental information  as before. The  proposal  does not 
affect  the  rights  to  privacy  or  data  protection  because  any  personal  data  (e.g.  names  of 
property owners in a cadastre) are excluded from the scope of the INSPIRE Directive. 

4. 

N/A 

5. 

• 

BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS 

OTHER ELEMENTS 

Implementation plans and monitoring, evaluation and reporting arrangements 

Implementation plan 

N/A 

• 

Explanatory documents 

Considering  the  scope  of  the  proposal,  it  is  not  justified  or  proportional  to  require 
explanatory documents. 

• 

Detailed explanation of the specific provisions of the proposal 

This proposal includes:  

– 

– 

– 

The  deletion  of  technical  interoperability  specifications,  taking  into  account  that 
Article 1(7) of Directive (EU) 2019/1024 sets out that that Directive governs the re-
use  of  existing  documents  held  by  public  sector  bodies  and  public  undertakings  of 
the  Member  States,  including  documents  to  which  Directive  2007/2/EC  applies.  
(Article 7). 

The  deletion  of  technical  requirements  as  regards  network  services,  taking  into 
account  that  Article  1(7)  of  Directive  (EU)  2019/1024  sets  out  that  that  Directive 
governs  the  re-use  of  existing  documents  held  by  public  sector  bodies  and  public 
undertakings  of  the  Member  States,  including  documents  to  which  Directive 
2007/2/EC applies (Article 11). 

The deletion of requirements for data-sharing as Directive (EU) 2019/1024 sets out 
that  data  is  open-by-default  which  also  applies  to  spatial  data,  including  spatial 
datasets defined under Directive 2007/2/EC. 

EN 

10 

  EN 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

The deletion of conditions for public authorities to apply charges for spatial data sets, 
taking into account  that  Article 1(7)  of Directive (EU) 2019/1024  sets  out  that that 
Directive governs the re-use of existing documents held by public sector bodies and 
public undertakings of the Member States, including  documents to  which Directive 
2007/2/EC applies, including principles and rules governing charging (Article 14). 

The  deletion  of  the  requirement  on  the  Commission  to  establish  and  operate  an 
INSPIRE geo-portal (Article 15). 

The  deletion  of  reporting  requirements,  to  avoid  duplication  as  Member  States  are 
obliged  to  undertake  monitoring  and  reporting  on  the  implementation  of  the 
INSPIRE Directive by the obligation set out in Article 5 of Implementing Regulation 
No (EU) 2023/138 (Article 21). 

An  update  of  the  regulatory  procedure  with  scrutiny  as  regards  adaptation  of 
Annexes I, II and III (Article 4(7) and new Article 22a). 

An  update  of  the  provision  on  implementing  powers  in  Article  5(4)  to  replace  the 
reference to Article 5 and 7 Decision 1999/468/EC  with  a reference to  Article 5 of 
Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 (new Article 22b) 

The  deletion  of  obsolete  provisions,  where  a  timeframe  has  expired,  or  obsolete 
definitions.

EN 

11 

  EN 

2025/0393 (COD) 

Proposal for a 

DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL 

amending Directive 2007/2/EC as regards simplification of certain requirements for the 
establishment of the Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the Union 

(Text with EEA relevance) 

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  on  the  Functioning  of  the  European  Union,  and  in  particular 
Article 192(1) thereof, 

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, 

After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee30,  
Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions31,  

Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure, 

Whereas: 

(1) 

(2) 

The  political  guidelines  for  the  Commission’s  2024-2029  term32  point  to  the  goal  of 
simplifying legislation to eliminate any overlaps and contradictions while maintaining 
high  standards  and  staying  the  course  on  the  goals  set  out  in  the  European  Green 
Deal33. 
In  response  to  the  2024  Draghi  report34,  which  points  to  regulatory  obstacles  and 
administrative  burden  as  one  of  the  key  challenges,  notably  for  small  and  medium 
sized enterprises (SMEs), the Competitiveness Compass35 identifies a set of horisontal 
enablers  to  underpin  competitiveness  including  simplifying  legislation,  reducing 
burden and favouring speed and flexibility. 

(3) 

In  its  Communication  of  19  November  2025  entitled  “Data  Union  Strategy  – 
Unlocking  Data  for  AI”,36  the  Commission  set  out  its  vision  for  the  data  union, 

30 
31 
32 
33 

34 

35 

36 

OJ C , , p. . 
OJ C , , p. . 
Europe’s Choice, Political Guidelines for the next European Commission 2024−2029, Ursula von der Leyen 
Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, 
the  European  Economic  and  Social  Committee  and  the  Committee  of  the  Regions  of  11  December 
2019, ‘The European Green Deal’, COM/2019/640 final. 
Draghi,  M.  (2024)  The  future  of  European  competitiveness.  Available  at:  The  Draghi  report  on  EU 
competitiveness  
COM(2025)  47  final  of  11  February  2025,  A  simpler  and  faster  Europe:  Communication  on 
implementation and simplification. 
Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social 
Committee and the Committee of the Regions of 11 February 2025, ‘A simpler and faster Europe: Communication 
on implementation and simplification’ (COM/2025/47 final). 

EN 

12 

  EN 

 
(4) 

(5) 

(6) 

(7) 

(8) 

including  for  the  improvement  of  public-sector  data-sharing.  That  agenda  requires 
more than an incremental approach and the Union must take bold action to achieve its 
goals.  The  Commission,  the  European  Parliament,  the  Council,  Member  States’ 
authorities  at  all  levels  and  stakeholders  need  to  work  together  to  streamline  and 
simplify Union, national and regional rules and implement policies more effectively. 

In  the  context  of  the  Commission’s  commitment  to  reduce  reporting  burdens  and 
compliance  costs,  advance  interoperability,  and  enhance  competitiveness,  it  is 
necessary  to  amend  Directive  2007/2/EC  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the 
Council37, whilst  maintaining  the policy objectives of the European Green  Deal,  and 
the Sustainable Finance Action Plan38.  

Directive  2007/2/EC  contains  certain  definitions  that  will  become  obsolete  as  a 
consequence of proposed amendments. Those definitions should be deleted.   

Directive  2007/2/EC  contains  reference  to  third  parties,  whereas  Directive  (EU) 
2019/1024,  which  applies  to  public  sector  bodies  and  public  undertakings,  does  not 
extend to private entities or businesses.  To ensure coherence with the  Directive (EU) 
2019/102439, the reference to third parties should be deleted. 

The  timeframes  for  the  creation  of  metadata  and  for  the  adoption  of  implementing 
rules  laying down technical  arrangements  for interoperability of spatial  data sets  and 
services are obsolete and should be deleted. 

Articles  7  and  8  of  Directive  2007/2/EC  empowers  the  Commission  to  adopt 
implementing  rules  laying  down  technical  arrangements  for  the  interoperability  and, 
where practicable, harmonisation of spatial data sets and services. They also set out the 
conditions  for  and the content of  those  implementing rules.  Article 5(1)  of Directive 
(EU)  2019/1024  establishes  that  public  sector  bodies  and  public  undertakings  are  to 
make  their  documents  available  in  any  pre-existing  format  or  language  and,  where 
possible  and  appropriate,  by  electronic  means,  in  formats  that  are  open,  machine-
readable,  accessible,  findable  and  re-usable,  together  with  their  metadata.  Both  the 
format  and  the  metadata  is,  where  possible,  to  comply  with  formal  open  standards. 
Pursuant  to  Article  1(7)  of  Directive  (EU)  2019/1024,  that  Directive  governs  the  re-
use of existing documents held by public sector bodies and public undertakings of the 
Member States, including documents to which Directive 2007/2/EC applies. Since the 
interoperability requirements for open data apply to spatial data, the empowerment to 
adopt implementing rules laying down technical arrangements for the interoperability 
and,  where  practicable,  harmonisation  of  spatial  data  sets  and  related  provisions 
should be deleted.  

(9) 

Article 10 of Directive 2007/2/EC specifies that Member States are to make available 
information  needed  to  make  spatial  data  interoperable,  including  codes  and 
classifications, and also sets out the conditions for ensuring coherence of spatial data 

of 

Directive 2007/2/EC 

the  European  Parliament 

37 
of 
14 March 2007 establishing  an  Infrastructure  for  Spatial  Information  in  the  European  Community 
(INSPIRE), OJ L 108, 25/04/2007, p. 1. 
Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, 
the European Central Bank, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the 
Regions of 8 March 2018, ‘Action Plan: Financing Sustainable Growth’, COM/2018/097 final. 
Directive (EU) 2019/1024 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on open data 
(OJ  L  172,  26.6.2019,  p.  56,  ELI: 
re-use  of  public 
and 
http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2019/1024/oj). 

the  Council 

information 

sector 

and 

the 

of 

13 

  EN 

38 

39 

EN 

 
relating to a feature, the location of which spans the frontier between two or more or 
more Member States. Since Articles 7 and 8 are being deleted, The requirements for 
Member  States  to  make  such  information  available  and  the  conditions  for  ensuring 
coherence of spatial data are no longer needed.   

(10)  Articles 11 and 12 of Directive 2007/2/EC specify that Member States are to establish 
and  operate  a  network  of  services  for 
the  discovery,  viewing,  download, 
transformation and invoking of spatial data sets, and ensure that public authorities and 
third  parties  can  link  their  spatial  data  sets  and  services  to  that  network.    Directive 
(EU) 2019/1024 sets the legal framework for open data and introduces the concept of 
high-value  datasets,  defined  as  data  that  is  associated  with  important  benefits  for 
society  and  the  economy  when  reused,  which  includes  spatial  data  sets.  Pursuant  to 
Directive (EU) 2019/1024, high-value datasets are to be made available for re-use in 
machine-readable format, via suitable application programming interfaces and, where 
relevant,  as  a  bulk  download.  Pursuant  to  Article  1(7)  of  Directive  (EU)  2019/1024, 
that Directive sets out that the Directive governs the re-use of existing documents held 
by  public  sector  bodies  and  public  undertakings  of  the  Member  States,  including 
documents  to  which  Directive  2007/2/EC  applies.  To  ensure  consistency  with 
Directive  (EU)  2019/1024  and  to  avoid  overlapping  provisions,  the  requirements  to 
establish and operate a network for spatial data services in Directive 2007/2/EC should 
be deleted.  

(11)  Article  14  of  Directive  2007/2/EC  sets  out  the  rules  for  making  discovery  and  view 
services  available  to  the  public  free  of  charge,  as  well  as  for  making  e-commerce 
services  available  where  charges  are  levied.  Directive  (EU)  2019/1024  establishes 
principles and rules governing charging for making documents and high-value datasets 
available  free  of  charge,  including  exceptions  and  derogations  from  the  rules  on 
charging, for the purpose of ensuring the maximum impact and to facilitate re-use of 
data. Pursuant to Article 1(7) of Directive (EU) 2019/1024, that Directive sets out that 
the  Directive  governs  the  re-use  of  existing  documents  held  by  public  sector  bodies 
and  public  undertakings  of  the  Member  States,  including  documents  to  which 
Directive  2007/2/EC  applies.  To  ensure  consistency  with  Directive  (EU)  2019/1024 
and  to  avoid  overlapping  provisions,  the  rules  on  charging  for  discovery  and  view 
services in Directive 2007/2/EC should be deleted.   

(12) 

] Article 15 of Directive 2007/2/EC requires the Commission to establish and operate 
an Inspire geo-portal. That portal has functioned as the central European access point 
to  the  data  provided  by  Member  States  and  EFTA  countries  under  Directive 
2007/2/EC. The portal allows monitoring of the availability of datasets , discovery of 
suitable  datasets  based  on  their  descriptions,  and  access  to  selected  datasets  through 
their  view  or  download  services.  Since  2021,  the  website data.europa.eu acts  as  a 
single access point for open data published by Union Institutions40, on national portals 
of   Member  States and  third  countries,  as  well  as  by  international  organisations.  To 
avoid duplication of access to spatial data sets and to reduce administrative burden, the 
obligation on the Commission to operate the Inspire geo-portal should be deleted.  

(13)  Article  16  of  Directive  2007/2/EC  sets  out  and  empowerment  for  the  Commission 
toadopt    technical  specifications  and  minimum  performance  criteria  for  network 
services referred to in Articles 11 and 12 of that Directive. Since Articles 11 and 12 of 
Directive 2007/2/EC are being deleted that empowerment is no longer needed. 

40 

Decision from April 2021? 

EN 

14 

  EN 

 
(14)  Article  17  of  Directive  2007/2/EC  requires  Member  States  to  adopt  measures  that 
make it possible for spatial data collected at one level of public authority to be shared 
between all the different levels of public authorities and to ensure that spatial data and 
services  are  made  available  under  conditions  that  do  not  restrict  their  extensive  use. 
Pursuant  to  Directive  (EU)  2019/1024,  data  is  open-by-default  which  also  applies  to 
spatial data, including spatial datasets falling within the scope of Directive 2007/2/EC. 
Article  17  should  therefore  be  deleted  for  the  purpose  of  simplifying  the  legal 
framework and avoiding overlapping rules. 

(15)  Article 21 of Directive 2007/2/EC sets out the monitoring and reporting requirements 
for Member States concerning the implementation of that Directive and the use of their 
infrastructures  for  spatial  information.  Article  5  of  Commission  Implementing 
Regulation (EU) 2023/13841, establishes a list of high-value datasets belonging to the 
thematic categories set out in Annex I to Directive (EU) 2019/1024 and held by public 
sector bodies. It also lays down the arrangements for publishing and resusing of such 
high-value datasets.  Member States are to provide the Commission with a report on 
the  measures  taken  to  implement  the  rules  set  out  in  Implementing  Regulation  (EU) 
2023/138,  including  a  list  of  datasets  corresponding  to  the  description  of  each  high-
value  data  referred  to  in  the  Annex  to  that  Implementing  Regulation  with  online 
reference to metadata that allows for existing standards. That Annex, which includes 
33 out of the 34 spatial datasets set out in Annexes I II and III to Directive 2007/2/EC. 
It  is  therefore  no  longer  necessary  to  maintain  the  reporting  requirements  set  out  in 
Article 21 of Directive 2007/2/EC. 

(16)  The  Treaty  of  Lisbon  modified  the  legal  framework  governing  the  powers  conferred 
on  the  Commission  by  the  legislator,  introducing  a  distinction  between  powers 
delegated  to  the  Commission  to  adopt  non-legislative  acts  of  general  application  to 
supplement  or  amend  certain  non-essential  elements  of  a  legislative  act  (delegated 
acts),  and  the  powers  conferred  on  the  Commission  to  adopt  acts  to  ensure  uniform 
conditions  for  implementing  legally  binding  Union  acts  (implementing  acts).  Where 
implementing  powers  are  conferred  on  the  Commission,  those  powers  should  be 
exercised  in  accordance  with  Regulation  (EU)  No  182/2011  of  the  European 
Parliament and of the Council42. 

(17)  This  Directive  adopted  before  the  entry  into  force  of  the  Treaty  of  Lisbon  confers 
powers  on  the  Commission  to  adopt  measures  under  the  regulatory  procedure  with 
scrutiny established by Article 5a of Council Decision 1999/468/EC43. 

(18)  The  need  to  align  all  existing  legislation  to  the  legal  framework  introduced  by  the 
Treaty of Lisbon is acknowledged in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 
on Better Law-Making44. 

41 
Commission  Implementing  Regulation  (EU)  2023/138  of  21 December  2022  laying  down  a  list  of 
specific  high-value  datasets  and  the  arrangements  for  their  publication  and  re-use  (Text  with  EEA  relevance), 
(OJ L 19, 20.1.2023, p. 43, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2023/138/oj). 

42 

43 

Regulation  (EU)  No  182/2011  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of  16  February  2011 
laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of 
the Commission’s exercise of implementing powers (OJ L 55, 28.2.2011, p. 13). 
Council  Decision  1999/468/EC  of  28  June  1999  laying  down  the  procedures  for  the  exercise  of 
implementing  powers  conferred  on 
the  Commission  (OJ  L  184,  17.7.1999,  p.  23,  ELI: 
http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/1999/468/oj.  

EN 

15 

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(19)  The  empowerment  for  the  Commission  to  amend  Annexes  I,  II  and  III  to  Directive 
2007/2/EC in order to adapt the description of the existing data themes referred to in 
those Annexes, which is set out in Article 4(7) of that Directive, provides for the use 
of  the  regulatory  procedure  with  scrutiny.  As  that  empowerment  fulfils  the  criteria 
under Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), it 
should be adapted to that provision.  

(20) 

In order to ensure the necessary adaptation of this Regulation, the power to adopt acts 
in  accordance  with  Article  290  TFEU  should  be  delegated  to  the  Commission  in 
respect  of  amending  Annexes  I  to  III  to  Directive  2007/2/EC  by  adapting  the 
description  of  the  existing  data  themes.  It  is  of  particular  importance  that  the 
Commission carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including 
at  expert  level,  in  accordance  with  the  principles  laid  down  in  the  Interinstitutional 
Agreement  of  13  April  2016  on  Better  Law-Making.  In  particular,  to  ensure  equal 
participation  in  the  preparation  of  delegated  acts,  the  European  Parliament  and  the 
Council receive all documents at the same time as Member States’ experts, and their 
experts systematically have access to meetings of Commission expert groups dealing 
with the preparation of delegated acts. 

(21)  The  empowerment  for  the  Commission  to  adopt  rules  for  the  implementation  of 
Article  5  of  Directive  2007/27EC,  which  is  set  out  in  paragraph  4  of  that  Article, 
should be adapted to Article 291 TFEU. 

(22)  Article  23  of  Directive  2007/2/EC  establishes  the  obligation  for  the  Commission  to 
evaluate that Directive, and sets out the elements on the basis of which the evaluation 
should be based. Those elements should be modified in view of the alignment with the 
monitoring and reporting obligations in Regulation No (EU) 2023/138 and the deletion 
of Article 21 of Directive 2007/2/EC.  

(23)  Directive 2007/2/EC shoudl therefore be amended accordingly.  
(24)  Commission  Regulations  (EU)  No 1089/201045,  (EC)  No 976/200946  and  (EU) 
No 268/201047 should be repealed before the respective empowerments on the basis of 
which  they  were  adopted  are  deleted.  The  application  date  for  the  repeal  of  those 
empowerments should therefore be deferred.  

44 

45 

46 

47 

OJ L 123, 12.5.2016, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/agree_interinstit/2016/512/oj. 

Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC 
of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  as  regards  interoperability  of  spatial  data  sets  and 
services (OJ L 323, 8.12.2010, pp. 11 ), ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2010/1089/oj 

Commission Regulation (EC) No 976/2009 of 19 October 2009 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of 
the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the Network Services (OJ L 274, 20.10.2009, p. 
9), ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2009/976/oj. 

Commission  Regulation  (EU)  No  268/2010  of  29  March  2010  implementing  Directive  2007/2/EC  of 
the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the access to spatial data sets and services of the 
Member  States  by  Community  institutions  and  bodies  under  harmonised  conditions  (OJ  L  83, 
30.3.2010, p. 8), ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2010/268/oj. 

EN 

16 

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(25)  Since the objectives of this Directive cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member 
States but can rather, by reason of the scale or effects of the action, be better achieved 
at  Union  level,  the  Union  may  adopt  measures,  in  accordance  with  the  principle  of 
subsidiarity  as  set  out  in  Article  5  of  the  Treaty  on  European  Union.  In  accordance 
with the principle of proportionality as set out in that Article, this Directive does not 
go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve those objectives. 

HAVE ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: 

Article 1 
Amendments 

Directive 2007/2/EC is amended as follows: 

(1) 

(2) 

in Article 3, points 5, 7, 8 and 10 are deleted;  

Article 4 is amended as follows: 

(a) 

(b) 

in paragraph 1, point (c)(ii) is deleted;(b) paragraph 5 is deleted; 

paragraph 7 is replaced by the following:  

‘7. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 22a in 
order to amend Annexes I, II and III by adapting the description of the existing data themes in 
the light of technological and economic developments.’ 

(3) 

Article 5 is amended as follows: 

(a) 

(b) 

In paragraph 2, point (a) is deleted.  

 paragraph 4 is replaced by the following: 

‘4.  The  Commission  is  empowered  to  adopt  implementing  acts  laying  down  rules  for  the 
application of this Article, taking account of relevant, existing international standards and user 
requirements, in particular with relation to validation metadata. Those implementing acts shall 
be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 22b(2)’; 

(4) 

(5) 

(6) 

(7) 

Articles 6 to 7 are deleted. 

Article 8 is deleted.  

Article 9 to 12 are deleted. 

Article 13(1) is amended as follows: 

(a) 

the first subparagraph is replaced by the following: 

‘Member  States  may  limit  public  access  to  spatial  data  sets  and  services  where  such  access 
could adversely affect international relations, public security or national defence.  

(b) 

in  the  second  subparagraph,  the  introductory  wording  is  replaced  by 
the following:  

‘Member  States  may  limit  public  access  to  spatial  data  sets  and  services  where  such  access 
could adversly affect any of the following:’; 

(8) 

(9) 

Articles 14 to 15 are  deleted.   

Article 16 is deleted. 

(10)  Article 17 is deleted.  

EN 

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(11)  Article 21 is deleted. 

(12)  Article 22 is replaced by the following: 

‘Article 22a 

1. The power to adopt delegated acts is conferred on the Commission subject to the conditions 
laid down in this Article.  

2.  The  power  to  adopt  delegated  acts  referred  to  in  Article  4(7)  shall  be  conferred  on  the 
Commission for a period of five years from [Note to PO: please insert the date of entry into 
force of this Directive]. The Commission shall draw up a report in respect of the delegation of 
power  not  later  than  nine  months  before  the  end  of  the  five-year  period.  The  delegation  of 
power  shall  be  tacitly  extended  for  periods  of  an  identical  duration  unless  the  European 
Parliament or the Council opposes such extension not later than three months before the end 
of each period.  

3.  The  delegation  of  power  referred  to  in  Article  4(7)  may  be  revoked  at  any  time  by  the 
European  Parliament  or  by  the  Council.  A  decision  to  revoke  shall  put  an  end  to  the 
delegation  of  the  power  specified  in  that  decision.  It  shall  take  effect  the  day  following  the 
publication  of  the  decision  in  the  Official  Journal  of  the  European  Union  or  at  a  later  date 
specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force.  

4. Before adopting a delegated act, the Commission shall consult experts designated by each 
Member State in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement 
of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making.  

5. As soon as it adopts a delegated act, the Commission shall notify it simultaneously to the 
European Parliament and to the Council.  

6. Delegated acts adopted pursuant to Article 4(7) shall enter into force only if no objection 
has  been  expressed  either  by  the  European  Parliament  or  by  the  Council within  a  period  of 
two  months  of  notification  of  that  act  to  the  European  Parliament  and  to  the  Council  or  if, 
before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed 
the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by two months at the 
initiative of the European Parliament or of the Council.’; 

‘Article 22b 

1.   The Commission shall be assisted by a committee. That  committee shall be a committee 
within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011. 

2.   Where  reference  is  made  to  this  paragraph,  Article 5  of  Regulation  (EU)  No 182/2011 
shall apply.’;        

(13)  Article 23 is replaced by the following: 

‘Article 23 

The Commission shall, no later than six years after [OP: please insert the date = 12 months 
following  the  date  of  entry  into  force  of  this  Directive],  carry  out  an  evaluation  of  this 
Directive, and of its implementation, and make it publicly available. That evaluation shall be 
based, inter alia, on the following elements:  

(a) 

the experience gathered from the implementation of this Directive; 

EN 

18 

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(b)  Member  State  high-value  dataset  metadata  harvested  by  the  European  data 

portal (data.europa.eu); 

(c) 

relevant scientific, analytical data required on the basis of the Better Regulation 
guidelines,  in  particular  by  relying  on  efficient  and  effective  information 
management processes.’. 

Article 2 
Transposition 

1. 

Member  States  shall  adopt  and  publish,  by  [OP:  please  insert  the  date  12  months 
after  the  date  of  entry  into  force  of  this  Directive],  the  laws,  regulations  and 
administrative  provisions  necessary  to  comply  with  this  Directive.  They  shall 
forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions.  

They shall apply those provisions from [OP: please insert the date 12 months and one 
day after the date of entry into force of this Directive].  

When  Member  States  adopt  those  provisions,  they  shall  contain  a  reference  to  this 
Directive  or  be  accompanied  by  such  a  reference  on  the  occasion  of  their  official 
publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made. 

2. 

Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions 
of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive. 

Article 3 
Entry into force and application 

1. 

2. 

This  Directive  shall  enter  into  force  on  the  [twentieth]  day  following  that  of  its 
publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. 

Application  of  Article  1,  points  (5),  (9),  (10)  and  (11)  shall  apply  from  [1  March 
2027].  

Article 4 
Addressees 

This Directive is addressed to the Member States. 

Done at Brussels, 

For the European Parliament 
The President 

For the Council 
The President 

EN 

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LEGISLATIVE FINANCIAL AND DIGITAL STATEMENT 

1. 

1.1. 

1.2. 

1.3. 

FRAMEWORK OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE ................................................. 3 

Title of the proposal/initiative ...................................................................................... 3 

Policy area(s) concerned .............................................................................................. 3 

Objective(s) .................................................................................................................. 3 

1.3.1.  General objective(s) ..................................................................................................... 3 

1.3.2.  Specific objective(s) ..................................................................................................... 3 

1.3.3.  Expected result(s) and impact ...................................................................................... 3 

1.3.4. 

Indicators of performance ............................................................................................ 3 

1.4. 

1.5. 

The proposal/initiative relates to: ................................................................................. 4 

Grounds for the proposal/initiative .............................................................................. 4 

1.5.1.  Requirement(s) to be met in the short or long term including a detailed timeline for 

roll-out of the implementation of the initiative ............................................................ 4 

1.5.2.  Added value of EU involvement (it may result from different factors, e.g. 

coordination gains, legal certainty, greater effectiveness or complementarities). For 
the purposes of this section 'added value of EU involvement' is the value resulting 
from EU action, that is additional to the value that would have been otherwise 
created by Member States alone. ................................................................................. 4 

1.5.3.  Lessons learned from similar experiences in the past .................................................. 4 

1.5.4.  Compatibility with the multiannual financial framework and possible synergies with 
other appropriate instruments ....................................................................................... 5 

1.5.5.  Assessment of the different available financing options, including scope for 

redeployment ................................................................................................................ 5 

1.6. 

1.7. 

2. 

2.1. 

2.2. 

2.2.1. 

2.2.2. 

Duration of the proposal/initiative and of its financial impact .................................... 6 

Method(s) of budget implementation planned ............................................................. 6 

MANAGEMENT MEASURES................................................................................... 8 

Monitoring and reporting rules .................................................................................... 8 

Management and control system(s) ............................................................................. 8 

Justification of the budget implementation method(s), the funding implementation 
mechanism(s), the payment modalities and the control strategy proposed .................. 8 

Information concerning the risks identified and the internal control system(s) set up 
to mitigate them............................................................................................................ 8 

2.2.3.  Estimation and justification of the cost-effectiveness of the controls (ratio between 

the control costs  and the value of the related funds managed), and assessment of the 
expected levels of risk of error (at payment & at closure) ........................................... 8 

2.3. 

3. 

3.1. 

Measures to prevent fraud and irregularities ................................................................ 9 

ESTIMATED FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE ............ 10 

Heading(s) of the multiannual financial framework and expenditure budget line(s) 
affected ....................................................................................................................... 10 

EN 

1 

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3.2. 

Estimated financial impact of the proposal on appropriations ................................... 12 

3.2.1.  Summary of estimated impact on operational appropriations.................................... 12 

3.2.1.1.  Appropriations from voted budget ............................................................................. 12 

3.2.1.2.  Appropriations from external assigned revenues ....................................................... 17 

3.2.2.  Estimated output funded from operational appropriations......................................... 22 

3.2.3.  Summary of estimated impact on administrative appropriations ............................... 24 

3.2.3.1. Appropriations from voted budget .............................................................................. 24 

3.2.3.2.  Appropriations from external assigned revenues ....................................................... 24 

3.2.3.3.  Total appropriations ................................................................................................... 24 

3.2.4.  Estimated requirements of human resources.............................................................. 25 

3.2.4.1.  Financed from voted budget....................................................................................... 25 

3.2.4.2.  Financed from external assigned revenues ................................................................ 26 

3.2.4.3.  Total requirements of human resources ..................................................................... 26 

3.2.5.  Overview of estimated impact on digital technology-related investments ................ 28 

3.2.6.  Compatibility with the current multiannual financial framework.............................. 28 

3.2.7.  Third-party contributions ........................................................................................... 28 

3.3. 

4. 

4.1. 

4.2. 

4.3. 

4.4. 

4.5. 

Estimated impact on revenue ..................................................................................... 29 

DIGITAL DIMENSIONS .......................................................................................... 29 

Requirements of digital relevance .............................................................................. 30 

Data ............................................................................................................................ 30 

Digital solutions ......................................................................................................... 31 

Interoperability assessment ........................................................................................ 31 

Measures to support digital implementation .............................................................. 32 

EN 

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1. 

FRAMEWORK OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE  

1.1. 

Title of the proposal/initiative 

Proposal  for  a  Directive  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  amending 
Directive  2007/2/EC  as  regards  certain  requirements  for  the  establishment  of  the 
Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the EU. 

1.2. 

Policy area(s) concerned  

Environment 

Communications Networks, Content and Technology 

European Green Deal 

1.3. 

Objective(s) 

1.3.1.  General objective(s) 

The  general  objectives  pursued  by  this  legislative  proposal  are  to  simplify  and 
modernise  certain  elements  of  Directive  2007/2/EC  in  order  to  alleviate  burden  on 
Member  States  as  regards  network  services,  interoperability  and  data  sharing.  By 
reducing  the  administrative  burden  and  compliance  costs  associated  with  technical 
and reporting requirements, this proposal intends to ensure the proportionality of the 
framework, while maintaining the objective of making it easier for public authorities, 
businesses and citizens to access and re-use environmental geospatial data. 

1.3.2. 

Specific objective(s) 

The  specific  objectives  of  the  proposed  amendments  to  Directive  2007/2/EC 
included in this proposal aim to achieve the following results: 

-  Remove  the  obligation  for  the  Commission  to  establish  and  operate  an  INSPIRE 
geo-portal. 

-  Align  the  obligation  for  Member  States  to  report  to  the  Commission  on  the 
implementation  of  the  Directive  and  use  of  their  infrastructures  for  spatial 
information  with  the  reporting  obligation  for  high-value  datasets  set  out  in 
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/138 of 21 December 2022 laying 
down a list of specific high-value datasets and the arrangements for their publication 
and re-use. 

- Align with Regulation (EU) 2024/903 as regards interoperability. 

-  Align  the  requirements  for  the  establishment  and  maintenance  of  the  Network 
Services with the obligations for APIs in Directive (EU) 2019/1024.  

1.3.3.  Expected result(s) and impact 

Specify the effects which the proposal/initiative should have on the beneficiaries/groups targeted. 

 The  proposed  amendments  will  benefit  a  wide  range  of  stakeholders,  including 
public  sector  data  providers,  national  and  regional  authorities,  businesses,  research 
institutions, SMEs, and civil society organisations. Public sector data providers will 
see reduced administrative burden and simplified compliance, while businesses and 
data users will enjoy improved access to high-value environmental data through open 

EN 

3 

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licensing  and  modern  application  programming  interfaces  (APIs).  A  12-month 
transition  transposition  period  is  proposed  to  allow  Member  States  to  adapt  their 
infrastructures  and  to  maintain  service  continuity  during  the  migration  to  the  new 
framework.  The  combined  EU  cost  savings  from  the  proposed  amendments  are 
expected  to  be  substantial.  The  annual  baseline  costs  for  INSPIRE  implementation 
across  EU-27  are  estimated  at  EUR  4.967–48.926  million.  The  proposed  measures 
are  expected  to  reduce  administrative  burdens  by  24–64%  compared  to  the  current 
baseline. The lower bound of 24% reflects the more conservative estimates derived 
from  stakeholder  feedback  during  the  validation  workshop,  which  captured  an 
immediate and pragmatic assessment of the potential  impact.  In contrast,  the upper 
bound  of  64%  corresponds  to  the  cost  reductions  identified  through  the  full 
alignment scenario with the Open Data Directive (ODD), based on a more systematic 
and  explicit  impact  assessment.  Taken  together,  these  two  assessments  are 
considered  to  represent  the  realistic  range  of  expected  savings  from  the  combined 
measures, particularly those linked to the annual update of harmonised datasets and 
the operation of publication and web services. This translates into annual savings of 
roughly  EUR  6.36–16.96  million,  based  on  the  average  annual  cost  component  for 
updating  and  maintaining  datasets  and  services  under  INSPIRE.  On  average  across 
the projected range, this corresponds to approximately a 44% annual administrative 
cost  reduction,  or  about  EUR  12  million  in  yearly  savings.  These  savings  are 
achieved  by  removing 
leveraging 
mainstream web technologies, and consolidating infrastructure.  

the  complex  harmonisation  requirements, 

1.3.4. 

Indicators of performance 

Specify the indicators for monitoring progress and achievements. 

To  monitor  progress  towards  achieving  the  proposal’s  specific  objectives,  the  Commission 
will explore the possibility of organising exchanges with Member States in different formats 
as well as periodic surveys of INSPIRE data sets being made available via the EU’s open data 
portal (data.europa.eu) as well as of reporting by Member States on the basis of Article 5 of 
Commission  Implementing  Regulation  (EU)  2023/138,  depending  on  the  availability  of 
financial resources.  

1.4. 

The proposal/initiative relates to:  

 a new action  
 a new action following a pilot project / preparatory action48  

 the extension of an existing action  

 a merger or redirection of one or more actions towards another/a new action 

1.5. 

Grounds for the proposal/initiative  

1.5.1.  Requirement(s) to be met in the short or long term including a detailed timeline for 

roll-out of the implementation of the initiative 

With  this  proposal,  the  Commission  proposes  a  Directive  amending  a  number  of 
provisions  of  Directive  2007/2/EC.  Once  the  co-legislators  have  reached  an 
agreement  on  the  contents  of  the  proposal,  the  Member  States  will  have  a  certain 
period  of  time  to  transpose  the  amendments  introduced  by  this  Directive  into  their 
national law.  

48 

As referred to in Article 58(2), point (a) or (b) of the Financial Regulation. 

EN 

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To  monitor  progress  towards  achieving  the  proposal’s  specific  objectives,  the 
Commission  will  explore  the  possibility  of  organising  exchanges  with  Member 
States  in  different  formats  as  well  as  periodic  surveys  of  INSPIRE  data  sets  being 
made available on the open data portal as well as of reporting by Member States on 
the  basis  of  Article  5  of  Commission  Implementing  Regulation  (EU)  2023/138, 
depending on the availability of financial resources.  

1.5.2.  Added  value  of  EU  involvement  (it  may  result  from  different  factors,  e.g. 
coordination gains, legal certainty, greater effectiveness or complementarities). For 
the  purposes  of  this  section  'added  value  of  EU  involvement'  is  the  value  resulting 
from  EU  action,  that  is  additional  to  the  value  that  would  have  been  otherwise 
created by Member States alone. 

Directive  2007/2/EC  already  regulates  the  establishment  of  an  Infrastructure  for 
Spatial  Information  in  the  Union  (INSPIRE),  with  the  objective  to  facilitate  the 
sharing  of  environmental  information  among  public  sector  organizations  and 
improve public access to spatial data across Europe. Responding to the lessons learnt 
from  the  implementation  of  the  INSPIRE  Directive,  the  aim  with  the  present 
proposal is to put in place a more simplified and prioritised approach for sharing of 
geospatial  data  to  ease  the  burden  on  Member  States,  taking  into  account  that 
technology and data management practices have evolved.  

the 

INSPIRE  Directive 

The Open Data Directive promotes the reuse of public sector information by making 
data  available  in  open  and  machine-readable  formats  which  corresponds  to  the 
objectives  of 
to  enhance  data  accessibility  and 
interoperability. The Implementing Regulation on High Value Datasets ensures that 
datasets  with  significant  socioeconomic  benefits  are  made  available  free  of  charge, 
which  can  help  maximize 
the 
Implementing  Regulation  on  High  Value  Datasets,  first  steps  have  already  been 
taken to ensure that Member States make the most valuable datasets held by public 
sector  bodies  openly  available.  This  includes  datasets  covering  almost  all  the  data 
themes set out in the INSPIRE Directive. 

the  potential  of  environmental  data.  With 

Common rules on  the sharing of environmental data enhance data accessibility and 
interoperability,  with  a  view  to  establishing  a  more  cohesive  data  landscape  that 
promotes the once-only  principle and ensures that environmental data plays a more 
integral  role  in  the  EU's  digital  single  market,  something  that  would  be  difficult  to 
achieve by Member States acting alone.  

1.5.3.  Lessons learned from similar experiences in the past 

N/A 

1.5.4.  Compatibility with the multiannual financial framework and possible synergies with 

other appropriate instruments 

N/A 

1.5.5.  Assessment  of  the  different  available  financing  options,  including  scope  for 

redeployment 

N/A 

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1.6. 

Duration of the proposal/initiative and of its financial impact 

 limited duration  

–    in effect from [DD/MM]YYYY to [DD/MM]YYYY  

–    financial  impact  from  YYYY  to  YYYY  for  commitment  appropriations  and 

from YYYY to YYYY for payment appropriations.  

 unlimited duration 

–  Implementation with a start-up period from YYYY to YYYY, 

–  followed by full-scale operation. 

1.7.  Method(s) of budget implementation planned49  

 Direct management by the Commission 

–   by its departments, including by its staff in the Union delegations;  

–    by the executive agencies  

 Shared management with the Member States  

 Indirect management by entrusting budget implementation tasks to: 

–   third countries or the bodies they have designated 

–   international organisations and their agencies (to be specified) 

–   the European Investment Bank and the European Investment Fund 

–   bodies referred to in Articles 70 and 71 of the Financial Regulation 

–   public law bodies 

–   bodies governed by private law with a public service mission to the extent that 

they are provided with adequate financial guarantees 

–   bodies governed by the private law of a Member State that are entrusted with 
the  implementation  of  a  public-private  partnership  and  that  are  provided  with 
adequate financial guarantees 

–   bodies or persons entrusted with the implementation of specific actions in the 
common  foreign  and  security  policy  pursuant  to  Title  V  of  the  Treaty  on 
European Union, and identified in the relevant basic act 

–  bodies  established  in  a  Member  State,  governed  by  the  private  law  of  a 
Member  State  or  Union  law  and  eligible  to  be  entrusted,  in  accordance  with 
sector-specific  rules,  with  the  implementation  of  Union  funds  or  budgetary 
guarantees,  to  the extent that such bodies are controlled by public law bodies or 
by bodies governed by private law with a public service mission, and are provided 
with adequate financial guarantees in the form of joint and several liability by the 
controlling bodies or equivalent financial guarantees and which may be, for each 
action, limited to the maximum amount of the Union support. 

Comments  

49 

Details of budget implementation methods and references to the Financial Regulation may be found on 
the BUDGpedia site: https://myintracomm.ec.europa.eu/corp/budget/financial-rules/budget-
implementation/Pages/implementation-methods.aspx. 

EN 

6 

  EN 

 
N/A 

EN 

7 

  EN 

2. 

MANAGEMENT MEASURES  

2.1.  Monitoring and reporting rules  

2.2.  Management and control system(s)  

2.2.1. 

Justification  of  the  budget  implementation  method(s),  the  funding  implementation 
mechanism(s), the payment modalities and the control strategy proposed 

N/A 

2.2.2. 

Information concerning the risks identified and the internal control system(s) set up 
to mitigate them 

N/A 

2.2.3.  Estimation  and  justification  of  the  cost-effectiveness  of  the  controls  (ratio  between 
the control costs  and the value of the related funds managed), and assessment of the 
expected levels of risk of error (at payment & at closure)  

N/A 

2.3. 

Measures to prevent fraud and irregularities  

N/A 

EN 

8 

  EN 

3. 

3.1. 

ESTIMATED FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE  

Heading(s)  of  the  multiannual  financial  framework  and  expenditure  budget 
line(s) affected  

•  Existing budget lines  

In order of multiannual financial framework headings and budget lines. 

Budget line 

Type of 
expenditure 

Contribution  

Heading of 
multiannual 
financial 
framework 

Number  

N/A 

Diff./Non-
diff.50 

from 
EFTA 
countries
51 

from 
candidate 
countries 
and 
potential 
candidates
52 

From 
other 
third 
countries 

other assigned 
revenue 

Diff./Non
-diff. 

YES/NO  YES/NO  YES/NO 

YES/NO 

•  New budget lines requested  

In order of multiannual financial framework headings and budget lines. 

Heading of 
multiannual 
financial 
framework 

Number  

N/A 

Budget line 

Type of 
expenditure 

Diff./Non-
diff. 

from 
EFTA 
countries 

Contribution  

from 
candidate 
countries 
and 
potential 
candidates 

from 
other 
third 
countries 

other assigned 
revenue  

Diff./Non
-diff. 

YES/NO  YES/NO  YES/NO 

YES/NO 

50 
51 
52 

Diff. = Differentiated appropriations / Non-diff. = Non-differentiated appropriations. 
EFTA: European Free Trade Association.  
Candidate countries and, where applicable, potential candidates from the Western Balkans. 

EN 

9 

  EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.2. 

Estimated financial impact of the proposal on appropriations  

3.2.1. 

Summary of estimated impact on operational appropriations  

–   The proposal/initiative does not require the use of operational appropriations  

–    The proposal/initiative requires the use of operational appropriations, as explained below 

3.2.1.1.  Appropriations from voted budget 

Heading of multiannual financial framework  

Number 

EUR million (to three decimal places) 

DG: <…….> 

Year 

2024 

Year 

2025 

Year 

2026 

Year 

2027 

TOTAL MFF 
2021-2027 

Operational appropriations  

Budget line 

Budget line 

Commitments 

Payments 

Commitments 

Payments 

(1a) 

(2a) 

(1b) 

(2b) 

Appropriations of an administrative nature financed from the envelope of specific programmes53 
Budget line 

(3) 

TOTAL appropriations 
for DG <…….> 

Commitments 

Payments 

=1a+1b+3 

=2a+2b+3 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

TOTAL 

operational 

appropriations  

Commitments 

Payments 

(4) 

(5) 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

53 

Technical and/or administrative assistance and expenditure in support of the implementation of EU programmes and/or actions (former ‘BA’ lines), indirect research, direct research. 

Year 

2024 

Year 

2025 

Year 

2026 

Year 

2027 

TOTAL MFF 
2021-2027 

EN 

10 

EN 

 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
TOTAL  appropriations  of  an  administrative  nature  financed 
from the envelope for specific programmes  

TOTAL appropriations under 
HEADING <….> 

Commitments 

of the multiannual financial framework 

Payments 

(6) 

=4+6 

=5+6 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

Heading of multiannual financial  
framework  

Number 

DG: <…….> 

Year 

2024 

Year 

2025 

Year 

2026 

Year 

2027 

TOTAL MFF 
2021-2027 

Operational appropriations  

Budget line 

Budget line 

Commitments 

Payments 

Commitments 

Payments 

(1a) 

(2a) 

(1b) 

(2b) 

Appropriations of an administrative nature financed from the envelope of specific programmes54  
Budget line 

(3) 

TOTAL appropriations 
for DG <…….> 

Commitments 

Payments 

=1a+1b +3 

=2a+2b+3 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

DG: <…….> 

Year 

Year 

Year 

Year 

TOTAL MFF 

54 

Technical and/or administrative assistance and expenditure in support of the implementation of EU programmes and/or actions (former ‘BA’ lines), indirect research, direct research. 

EN 

11 

EN 

 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
2024 

2025 

2026 

2027 

2021-2027 

Operational appropriations  

Budget line 

Budget line 

Commitments 

Payments 

Commitments 

Payments 

(1a) 

(2a) 

(1b) 

(2b) 

Appropriations of an administrative nature financed from the envelope of specific programmes55  
Budget line 

(3) 

TOTAL appropriations 
for DG <…….> 

Commitments 

Payments 

=1a+1b +3 

=2a+2b+3 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

TOTAL 

operational 

appropriations  

Commitments 

Payments 

TOTAL  appropriations  of  an  administrative  nature  financed 
from the envelope for specific programmes  

TOTAL appropriations under 
HEADING <….> 

Commitments 

of the multiannual financial framework 

Payments 

(4) 

(5) 

(6) 

=4+6 

=5+6 

Year 

2024 

Year 

2025 

Year 

2026 

Year 

2027 

TOTAL MFF 
2021-2027 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

Year 

2024 

Year 

2025 

0.000 

Year 

2026 

0.000 

Year 

2027 

0.000 

0.000 

TOTAL MFF 
2021-2027 

•  TOTAL  operational  appropriations 

(all  Commitments 

(4) 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

55 

Technical and/or administrative assistance and expenditure in support of the implementation of EU programmes and/or actions (former ‘BA’ lines), indirect research, direct research. 

EN 

12 

EN 

 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
operational headings) 

Payments 

•  TOTAL  appropriations  of  an  administrative  nature  financed 
from  the  envelope  for  specific  programmes  (all  operational 
headings) 

TOTAL appropriations Under          

Heading 1 to 6 

Commitments 

of the multiannual financial framework 
(Reference amount) 

Payments 

(5) 

(6) 

=4+6 

=5+6 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

Heading of multiannual financial  framework  

7 

‘Administrative expenditure’56 

 Human resources  
 Other administrative expenditure  
TOTAL DG <…….> 

DG: <…….> 

Appropriations  

DG: <…….> 

 Human resources  
 Other administrative expenditure  
TOTAL DG <…….> 

Appropriations  

Year 

2024 

Year 

2025 

Year 

2026 

Year 

2027 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

Year 

2024 

Year 

2025 

Year 

2026 

Year 

2027 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

TOTAL 
MFF 2021-
2027 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

TOTAL 
MFF 2021-
2027 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

56 

The necessary appropriations should be determined using the annual average cost figures available on the appropriate BUDGpedia webpage. 

EN 

13 

EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TOTAL appropriations under HEADING 7 of the multiannual financial 
framework  

(Total 
commitments 
= Total 
payments) 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

EUR million (to three decimal places) 

Year 

2024 

Year 

2025 

Year 

2026 

Year 

2027 

TOTAL MFF 
2021-2027 

TOTAL appropriations under HEADINGS 1 to 7 

Commitments 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

of the multiannual financial framework  

Payments 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

3.2.1.2.  Appropriations from external assigned revenues 

Heading of multiannual financial framework  

Number 

EUR million (to three decimal places) 

DG: <…….> 

Year 

2024 

Year 

2025 

Year 

2026 

Year 

2027 

TOTAL MFF 
2021-2027 

Operational appropriations  

Budget line 

Budget line 

Commitments 

Payments 

Commitments 

Payments 

(1a) 

(2a) 

(1b) 

(2b) 

Appropriations of an administrative nature financed from the envelope of specific programmes57 
Budget line 

(3) 

TOTAL appropriations 

Commitments 

=1a+1b+3 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

57 

Technical and/or administrative assistance and expenditure in support of the implementation of EU programmes and/or actions (former ‘BA’ lines), indirect research, direct research. 

EN 

14 

EN 

 
 
  
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
for DG <…….> 

Payments 

=2a+2b+3 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

DG: <…….> 

Year 

2024 

Year 

2025 

Year 

2026 

Year 

2027 

TOTAL MFF 
2021-2027 

Operational appropriations  

Budget line 

Budget line 

Commitments 

Payments 

Commitments 

Payments 

(1a) 

(2a) 

(1b) 

(2b) 

Appropriations of an administrative nature financed from the envelope of specific programmes58 
Budget line 

(3) 

TOTAL appropriations 
for DG <…….> 

Commitments 

Payments 

=1a+1b+3 

=2a+2b+3 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

TOTAL 

operational 

appropriations  

Commitments 

Payments 

TOTAL  appropriations  of  an  administrative  nature  financed 
from the envelope for specific programmes  

TOTAL appropriations under 
HEADING <….> 

Commitments 

of the multiannual financial framework 

Payments 

Heading of multiannual financial framework  

Number 

(4) 

(5) 

(6) 

=4+6 

=5+6 

Year 

2024 

Year 

2025 

Year 

2026 

Year 

2027 

TOTAL MFF 
2021-2027 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

58 

Technical and/or administrative assistance and expenditure in support of the implementation of EU programmes and/or actions (former ‘BA’ lines), indirect research, direct research. 

EN 

15 

EN 

 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
DG: <…….> 

Year 

2024 

Year 

2025 

Year 

2026 

Year 

2027 

TOTAL MFF 
2021-2027 

Operational appropriations  

Budget line 

Budget line 

Commitments 

Payments 

Commitments 

Payments 

(1a) 

(2a) 

(1b) 

(2b) 

Appropriations of an administrative nature financed from the envelope of specific programmes59 
Budget line 

(3) 

TOTAL appropriations 
for DG <…….> 

Commitments 

Payments 

=1a+1b+3 

=2a+2b+3 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

TOTAL 

operational 

appropriations  

Commitments 

Payments 

TOTAL  appropriations  of  an  administrative  nature  financed 
from the envelope for specific programmes  

TOTAL appropriations under 
HEADING <….> 

Commitments 

of the multiannual financial framework 

Payments 

(4) 

(5) 

(6) 

=4+6 

=5+6 

Year 

2024 

Year 

2025 

Year 

2026 

Year 

2027 

TOTAL MFF 
2021-2027 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

Year 

2024 

Year 

2025 

0.000 

Year 

2026 

0.000 

Year 

2027 

0.000 

0.000 

TOTAL MFF 
2021-2027 

•  TOTAL  operational  appropriations 

(all  Commitments 

(4) 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

59 

Technical and/or administrative assistance and expenditure in support of the implementation of EU programmes and/or actions (former ‘BA’ lines), indirect research, direct research. 

EN 

16 

EN 

 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
operational headings) 

Payments 

•  TOTAL  appropriations  of  an  administrative  nature  financed 
from  the  envelope  for  specific  programmes  (all  operational 
headings) 

TOTAL appropriations under Headings 1 
to 6 

Commitments 

of the multiannual financial framework (Reference 
amount) 

Payments 

(5) 

(6) 

=4+6 

=5+6 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

Heading of multiannual financial framework  

7 

‘Administrative expenditure’60 

DG: <…….> 

 Human resources  
 Other administrative expenditure  

TOTAL DG <…….> 

Appropriations  

DG: <…….> 

 Human resources  
 Other administrative expenditure  

TOTAL DG <…….> 

Appropriations  

EUR million (to three decimal places) 

Year 

2024 

Year 

2025 

Year 

2026 

Year 

2027 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

Year 

2024 

Year 

2025 

Year 

2026 

Year 

2027 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

TOTAL 
MFF 2021-
2027 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

TOTAL 
MFF 2021-
2027 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

60 

The necessary appropriations should be determined using the annual average cost figures available on the appropriate BUDGpedia webpage. 

EN 

17 

EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TOTAL appropriations under HEADING 7 of the multiannual 
financial framework  

(Total 
commitments 
= Total 
payments) 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

Year 

2024 

Year 

2025 

Year 

2026 

Year 

2027 

TOTAL MFF 
2021-2027 

EUR million (to three decimal places) 

TOTAL appropriations under HEADINGS 1 to 7 

Commitments 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

of the multiannual financial framework  

Payments 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

3.2.2.  Estimated output funded from operational appropriations (not to be completed for decentralised agencies) 

Year  
2024 

Year  
2025 

Year  
2026 

Year  
2027 

OUTPUTS 

Commitment appropriations in EUR million (to three decimal places) 

Enter as many years as necessary to show the 
duration of the impact (see Section1.6) 

TOTAL 

o
N

Cost 

o
N

Cost 

o
N

Cost 

o
N

Cost 

o
N

Cost  N

o

Cost 

o
N

Cost 

Total 
No 

Total 
cost 

Indicate 
objectives and 
outputs  

 

Type61 

Avera
ge 
cost 

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE No 162… 

- Output 

- Output 

- Output 

61 
62 

Outputs are products and services to be supplied (e.g. number of student exchanges financed, number of km of roads built, etc.). 
As described in Section 1.3.2. ‘Specific objective(s)’  

EN 

18 

EN 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Subtotal for specific objective No 1 

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE No 2 ... 

- Output 

Subtotal for specific objective No 2 

TOTALS 

EN 

19 

EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.2.3. 

Summary of estimated impact on administrative appropriations  

–   The  proposal/initiative  does  not  require  the  use  of  appropriations  of  an 

administrative nature  

–    The proposal/initiative requires the use of appropriations of an administrative 

nature, as explained below 

3.2.3.1. Appropriations from voted budget 

VOTED APPROPRIATIONS 

Year 

2024 

Year 

2025 

Year 

2026 

Year 

2027 

TOTAL 
2021 - 2027 

HEADING 7 

Human resources  

Other administrative expenditure  

Subtotal HEADING 7 

Outside HEADING 7 

Human resources  

Other expenditure of an administrative nature 

Subtotal outside HEADING 7 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

TOTAL 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

3.2.3.2.  Appropriations from external assigned revenues 

EXTERNAL ASSIGNED REVENUES 

Year 

2024 

Year 

2025 

Year 

2026 

Year 

2027 

TOTAL 
2021 - 2027 

HEADING 7 

Human resources  

Other administrative expenditure  

Subtotal HEADING 7 

Outside HEADING 7 

Human resources  

Other expenditure of an administrative nature 

Subtotal outside HEADING 7 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

TOTAL 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

VOTED APPROPRIATIONS                            

+                                                               

Year 

2024 

Year 

Year 

Year 

2025 

2026 

2027 

TOTAL 
2021 - 
2027 

3.2.3.3.  Total appropriations 

TOTAL 

EXTERNAL ASSIGNED REVENUES 

HEADING 7 

Human resources  

Other administrative expenditure  

Subtotal HEADING 7 

Outside HEADING 7 

Human resources  

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

EN 

20 

  EN 

 
  
  
Other expenditure of an administrative nature 

Subtotal outside HEADING 7 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

TOTAL 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

The  appropriations  required  for  human  resources  and  other  expenditure  of  an  administrative  nature 
will  be  met  by  appropriations  from  the  DG  that  are  already  assigned  to  management  of  the  action 
and/or  have  been  redeployed  within  the  DG,  together,  if  necessary,  with  any  additional  allocation 
which may be granted to the managing DG under the annual allocation procedure and in the light of 
budgetary constraints. 

3.2.4.  Estimated requirements of human resources  

–   The proposal/initiative does not require the use of human resources  

–    The  proposal/initiative  requires  the  use  of  human  resources,  as  explained 

below 

3.2.4.1.  Financed from voted budget 

Estimate to be expressed in full-time equivalent units (FTEs)63 

VOTED APPROPRIATIONS 

Year 

2024 

Year 

2025 

Year 

2026 

Year 

2027 

 Establishment plan posts (officials and temporary staff) 

20 01 02 01 (Headquarters and Commission’s Representation Offices) 

20 01 02 03 (EU Delegations) 

01 01 01 01 (Indirect research) 

01 01 01 11 (Direct research) 

Other budget lines (specify) 

• External staff (inFTEs) 

20 02 01 (AC, END from the ‘global envelope’) 

20 02 03 (AC, AL, END and JPD in the EU Delegations) 

Admin. Support 
line 
[XX.01.YY.YY] 

- at Headquarters 

- in EU Delegations  

01 01 01 02 (AC, END - Indirect research) 

 01 01 01 12 (AC, END - Direct research) 

Other budget lines (specify) - Heading 7 

Other budget lines (specify) - Outside Heading 7 

TOTAL 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

3.2.4.2.  Financed from external assigned revenues 

EXTERNAL ASSIGNED REVENUES 

 Establishment plan posts (officials and temporary staff) 

Year 

2024 

Year 

2025 

Year 

2026 

Year 

2027 

20 01 02 01 (Headquarters and Commission’s Representation Offices) 

0 

0 

0 

0 

63 

Please specify below the table how many FTEs within the number indicated are already assigned to the 
management of the action and/or can be redeployed within your DG and what are your net needs. 

EN 

21 

  EN 

 
  
 
 
20 01 02 03 (EU Delegations) 

01 01 01 01 (Indirect research) 

01 01 01 11 (Direct research) 

Other budget lines (specify) 

• External staff (in full time equivalent units) 

20 02 01 (AC, END from the ‘global envelope’) 

20 02 03 (AC, AL, END and JPD in the EU Delegations) 

Admin. Support 
line  
[XX.01.YY.YY] 

- at Headquarters 

- in EU Delegations  

01 01 01 02 (AC, END - Indirect research) 

 01 01 01 12 (AC, END - Direct research) 

Other budget lines (specify) - Heading 7 

Other budget lines (specify) - Outside Heading 7 

TOTAL 

3.2.4.3.  Total requirements of human resources 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

TOTAL VOTED APPROPRIATIONS                                                   

Year 
+                                                                                               
2025 

2024 

Year 

EXTERNAL ASSIGNED REVENUES 

 Establishment plan posts (officials and temporary staff) 

20 01 02 01 (Headquarters and Commission’s Representation Offices) 

20 01 02 03 (EU Delegations) 

01 01 01 01 (Indirect research) 

01 01 01 11 (Direct research) 

Other budget lines (specify) 

• External staff (in full time equivalent units) 

20 02 01 (AC, END from the ‘global envelope’) 

20 02 03 (AC, AL, END and JPD in the EU Delegations) 

Admin. Support 
line  
[XX.01.YY.YY] 

- at Headquarters 

- in EU Delegations  

01 01 01 02 (AC, END - Indirect research) 

 01 01 01 12 (AC, END - Direct research) 

Other budget lines (specify) - Heading 7 

Other budget lines (specify) - Outside Heading 7 

TOTAL 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

The staff required to implement the proposal (in FTEs): N/A 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

Year 

Year 

2026 

2027 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

To be covered by 
current staff 
available in the 
Commission 
services  

Exceptional additional staff* 

To be financed 
under Heading 7 

To be financed 
from BA line 

To be financed 
from fees 

EN 

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or Research 

N/A 

Establishment 
plan posts 

staff 
External 
(CA, SNEs, INT) 

Description of tasks to be carried out by: 

Officials and temporary staff 

External staff 

3.2.5.  Overview of estimated impact on digital technology-related investments 

Compulsory: the best estimate of the digital technology-related investments entailed 
by the proposal/initiative should be included in the table below.  

Exceptionally,  when  required  for  the  implementation  of  the  proposal/initiative,  the 
appropriations under Heading 7 should be presented in the designated line.  

The appropriations under Headings 1-6 should be reflected as “Policy IT expenditure 
on operational programmes”. This expenditure refers to the operational budget to be 
used to re-use/ buy/ develop IT platforms/ tools directly linked to the implementation 
of the initiative and their associated investments (e.g. licences, studies, data storage 
etc).  The  information  provided  in  this  table  should  be  consistent  with  details 
presented under Section 4 “Digital dimensions”. 

TOTAL Digital and IT appropriations 

Year 

Year 

Year 

Year 

2024 

2025 

2026 

2027 

TOTAL 
MFF 
2021 - 
2027 

HEADING 7 

IT expenditure (corporate)  

Subtotal HEADING 7 

Outside HEADING 7 

Policy IT expenditure on operational 
programmes 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

Subtotal outside HEADING 7 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

TOTAL 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

0.000 

3.2.6.  Compatibility with the current multiannual financial framework  

The proposal/initiative: 

–    can be fully financed through redeployment within the relevant heading of the 

multiannual financial framework (MFF) 

–    requires use of the unallocated margin under the relevant heading of the MFF 

and/or use of the special instruments as defined in the MFF Regulation 

–    requires a revision of the MFF 

EN 

23 

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3.2.7.  Third-party contributions  

The proposal/initiative: 

–    does not provide for co-financing by third parties 

–    provides for the co-financing by third parties estimated below: 

Appropriations in EUR million (to three decimal places) 

Year  
2024 

Year  
2025 

Year  
2026 

Year  
2027 

Total 

Specify the co-financing body  

TOTAL appropriations co-
financed  

3.3. 

Estimated impact on revenue  

–   The proposal/initiative has no financial impact on revenue. 

–    The proposal/initiative has the following financial impact: 

– 

– 

– 

Budget revenue line: 

Article …………. 

 

 

on own resources  

on other revenue 

  please indicate, if the revenue is assigned to expenditure lines 

Appropriations 
available for the 
current financial 
year 

     EUR million (to three decimal places) 

Impact of the proposal/initiative64 

Year 2024 

Year 2025  Year 2026 

Year 2027 

For assigned revenue, specify the budget expenditure line(s) affected. 

N/A 

Other  remarks  (e.g.  method/formula  used  for  calculating  the  impact  on  revenue  or 
any other information). 

N/A 

64 

As regards traditional own resources (customs duties, sugar levies), the amounts indicated must be net 
amounts, i.e. gross amounts after deduction of 20% for collection costs. 

EN 

24 

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4. 

DIGITAL DIMENSIONS 

4.1. Requirements of digital relevance 

If the policy initiative is assessed as having no requirement of digital relevance, provide an explanation as to why digital means are not used 

Otherwise, please list the requirements of digital relevance in the table below:  

Reference to the 
requirement 

Article 1 

Article 5(1) 

Article 5(2) 

Article 5(3) 

Requirement description 

Establishment  of  a  European  infrastructure 
for  spatial  information  (INSPIRE)  building 
upon 
and 
infrastructures 
operated by the Member States 

established 

Actor affected or 
concerned by the 
requirement 

Member States 

Metadata  must  be  created  and  kept  up  to 
date for datasets and services 

Member States 

Description of information to be included in 
metadata for spatial datasets and services 

Member States 

Metadata  describing  spatial  data  sets  and 
spatial  data  services  should  be  reusable, 
discoverable and catalogued  

Member States 

High-level 
Processes 

Category 

Digital 
infrastructure 
governance 

Metadata 
management 

Metadata 
management  

Metadata 
management 

Digital 
service 

public 

Data 

Data 

Data; 
solution; 
public service 

digital 
digital 

EN 

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EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
4.2. Data 

High-level description of the data in scope and any related standards/specifications 

Type of data  

Reference to the requirement(s) 

Standard and/or specification (if applicable) 

Spatial data (elevation models, protected sites etc.)  Article 4  

Metadata for spatial datasets and services 

Article 5 

Annex I, II and III to Directive 2007/2/EC; 
Categories “1. GEOSPATIAL”,”2. EARTH 
OBSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENT” and “6. 
MOBILITY” of the Annex to Commission 
Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/138 on high-
value datasets.  

INSPIRE Metadata Regulation (EC) No 1205/2008; 
ISO 19115; DCAT-AP; 

Alignment with the European Data Strategy 

Explain how the requirement(s) are aligned with the European Data Strategy 

The INSPIRE Directive is part of the EU’s digital and environmental policy landscape and aligns closely with the objectives of the European 
Data Strategy and the Data Union Strategy. By establishing a common framework for the sharing, and reuse of spatial data across  Member 
States, INSPIRE contributes to the development of a federated European data infrastructure. It supports the creation of the Common European 
Green Deal Data Space by making spatial data accessible for public authorities, businesses, and citizens. 

Alignment with the once-only principle 

Explain how the once-only principle has been considered how the possibility to reuse existing data explored 

The  INSPIRE  Directive  applies  the  once-only  principle  by  ensuring  that  spatial  data  is  collected  once  and  reused  many  times,  particularly 
within and between public authorities. According to Article 4(4), the Directive does not impose any requirement for the collection of new data. 

EN 

26 

EN 

 
 
 
 
Instead, it focuses on the identification and documentation of existing spatial data held by public bodies. The Directive encourages Member 
States  to  share  spatial  data  through  coordinated  infrastructures  and  to  provide  access  via  API’s  under  the  rules  set  out  by  the  Open  Data 
Directive, ensuring that once data is created or collected, it can be reused for multiple purposes, including policymaking, regulatory reporting, 
and public access. 

Explain how newly created data is findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable, and meets high-quality standards 

The  INSPIRE  Directive  incorporates  robust  mechanisms  to  ensure  that  spatial  data  adheres  to  the  FAIR  principles.  Data  is  made  findable 
through  mandatory  metadata  requirements  set  out  in  Article  5,  which  require  public  authorities  to  describe  datasets  using  standardised 
metadata  elements,  enabling  users  to  search  by  themes,  location,  quality,  or  responsible  authority.  Member  States  are  to  make  spatial  data 
accessible  and  interoperable  following  the  rules  set  forward  by  the  Open  Data  Directive  and  its  Implementing  Regulation  on  high-value 
datasets. Finally, reusability is supported by ensuring data is shared under clear conditions that allow broad reuse. 

Data flows 

Type of data 

Reference(s) 
to the 
requirement(s) 

Actor who 
provides the 
data 

Actor who 
receives the 
data 

Trigger for the 
data exchange 

Frequency (if 
applicable) 

Metadata for spatial datasets and services  Article 5 

Member States 

Public access 
with full reuse 

Mandated by 
directive; periodic 
updates 

Ongoing and 
continuous. 

4.3 Digital Solutions 

EN 

27 

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For each digital solution, please provide the reference to the requirement(s) of digital relevance concerning it, a description of the digital solution's 
mandated  functionality,  the  body  that  will  be  responsible  for  it,  and  other  relevant  aspects  such  as  reusability  and  accessibility.  Finally,  explain 
whether the digital solution intends to make use of AI technologies. 

Digital solution 

National 
Spatial Data 
Infrastructures 

Reference(s) 
to the 
requirement(s) 

Main mandated 
functionalities 

Responsible body 

Articles 1(2)  Host and provide access 

Member States 

to metadata, spatial 
datasets and supporting 
information for 
interoperability  

Use of AI 
technologies 
(if 
applicable) 

No 

How is 
accessibility 
catered for? 

Each MS 
ensures the 
accessibility 
of metadata, 
spatial data 
and spatial 
data  

How is reusability 
considered? 

Reuse of common 
metadata schemas, 
license conditions 
and data access 
interfaces (API’s) 

For each digital solution, explain how the digital solution  complies with the requirements  and  obligations of  the EU cybersecurity framework,  and 
other applicable digital policies and legislative enactments (such as eIDAS, Single Digital Gateway, etc.). 

National Spatial Data Infrastructures 

Digital and/or sectorial policy (when these are 
applicable) 

Explanation on how it aligns 

AI Act 

Not applicable 

EU Cybersecurity framework 

Handled by EC standard rules. 

eIDAS 

Not referenced at this point. 

Single Digital Gateway and IMI 

Not referenced at this point. 

EN 

28 

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Others 

- 

4.4 

Interoperability assessment 

Describe the digital public service(s) affected by the requirements 

Digital public service 
or category of digital 
public services 

Description 

Reference(s) to the 
requirement(s) 

Interoperable Europe 
Solution(s)  

Other interoperability solution(s) 

European 
infrastructure for 
spatial information 

by 

created 

building 

European infrastructure for spatial 
information 
upon 
national  infrastructures  for  spatial 
information 
the 
Member  States  and  designed  to 
ensure that spatial data are stored, 
made  available  and  maintained  at 
the  most  appropriate  level  and 
under  conditions  which  do  not 
unduly restrict their extensive use. 

(NOT APPLICABLE) 

Art. 1   

// 

INSPIRE Metadata Regulation (EC) 
No 1205/2008; ISO 19115 metadata 
standard for geographic information; 
DCAT-AP metadata standard; OGC 
geospatial standards 

Assess the impact of the requirement(s) on cross-border interoperability 

EN 

29 

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European infrastructure for spatial information  

Assessment 

Measures 

Potential remaining barriers 

Assess the alignment with existing 
digital and sectorial policies  

Please list the applicable digital and 
sectorial policies identified 

Assess the organisational measures for 
a smooth cross-border digital public 
services delivery 

Please list the governance measures 
foreseen 

- European Data Strategy: INSPIRE supports 
structured and secure access to public data 
through interoperable services. 
- Open Data Directive (2019/1024): INSPIRE 
spatial datasets fall within the directive’s 
scope and many qualify as high-value 
datasets (HVDs). 
- High Value Datasets Implementing 
Regulation (EU) 2023/138): INSPIRE Annex 
I–III data categories overlap largely with 
HVD themes, especially under the categories 
of geospatial, earth observation and 
environmental, and mobility. 
- Interoperable Europe Act (2024/903): 
INSPIRE enables cross-border data sharing. 

Coordination structures established by each 
Member State (Article 18) ensure national 
alignment and support multi-level 
governance. 
A single national contact point is designated 
(Article 19(2)) to liaise with the European 
Commission. 
The European Commission coordinates at EU 
level (Article 19(1)). 

Fragmentation in how Member States classify and license 
spatial data. 
Full alignment of INSPIRE datasets with High-Value 
Datasets.  

Varying maturity of national coordination structures. 
Coordination burden on smaller public authorities. 
Lack of enforcement mechanisms for cross-border data 
integration consistency. 

EN 

30 

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Assess the measures taken to ensure a 
shared understanding of the data 

Please list such measures 

Assess the use of commonly agreed 
open technical specifications and 
standards 

Please list such measures 

Mandatory creation of metadata for all 
datasets and services (Article 5). 
Standardised metadata elements (ISO 19115 / 
INSPIRE Metadata Regulation (EC) No 
1205/2008). 
Harmonised spatial data themes set out in 
Annexes I–III. 

Metadata conform to INSPIRE rules aligned 
with ISO 19115. 
Reference to European and international 
standards (Article 20). 
Use of DCAT-AP for metadata portals is 
supported through a GeoDCAT mapping. 

Metadata quality varies across Member States. 
Limited multilingual support for metadata. 
Inconsistent updates to metadata records, leading to 
discoverability issues. 

Ongoing maintenance of alignment with evolving EU and 
global technical standards required. 

4.5  Measures to support digital implementation 

Description of the measure 

Reference(s) to the requirement(s)  Commission role  

Metadata Implementing Regulation 

Article 5(4) 

(INSPIRE Metadata Regulation (EC) No 
1205/2008) 

(if applicable) 

Legal 
maintenance of 
the Act. Monitor 
implementation.  

Actors to be 
involved 

(if applicable) 

Expected timeline 

(if applicable) 

Commission, 
Member States 

In force 

EN 

31 

EN