The CAPE project has recently examined the status of Information Society development in the individual ten European Union (EU) accession countries as part of a larger survey looking to determine the needs and priorities for Information Society Technologies in the environment and transport sectors.   As a result, based on the findings of the country report chapters, the following summary table has been prepared for the main policy initiatives or concepts for information society development, progress in implementing environmental information systems, and corresponding legal frameworks. Country Policy/Concepts (Environmental) Information System Legal Framework Bulgaria   National System for Environmental Monitoring Law on Access to Information, currently being drafted. Regulation on Access to Environmental Information, currently being drafted. International Convention on Access to Information signed, no immediate plans to ratify Czech Republic National Policy on the Information Society, 1998 Environment Monitoring Concept, 1993  Concept for an Integrated Environmental Information System, 1992 Act on Environmental Right to Know, 1998 International Convention on Access to Information signed, ratification expected 1999 Estonia The Fundamentals of Estonian Information Policy, 1998 Environment Pollution Inventory Data with over 40 component databases Estonian Constitution International  Convention on Access to Information signed, ratification expected 2000 Hungary Intelligent Cities and Regions Programme, 1997 GIS Development Programme, implemented within the National Inspectorate for Environmental Protection, and 12 Regional Inspectorates Law LIII on the General rules for Environmental Protection, 1995 International Convention on Access to Information signed, ratification expected 2000 Latvia Concept for an Information Development Strategy, 1997-2002 National Programme for Informatics, developed 1998 but yet to be accepted. State Information System Unified Environmental Information System Law on Access to Information, 1998 Law on Environmental Protection, 1991 Regulation on Economical Classification. International Convention on Access to Information signed, ratification expected 1999  Lithuania National Communications and Information Development Programme National Environmental Database Public Information Law, 1996 Environmental Protection Law, 1992 Environmental Monitoring Law, 1997 International Convention on Access to Information signed, ratification expected 1999 Poland Global Information Society Strategy, including: Objectives and Directions of the Information Society in Poland Both currently being finalised National monitoring system based on the Act on the Environmental Protection Inspectorate, 1991 Polish Constitution, Article 74 Act on the Environmental Protection Inspectorate, 1991 International Convention on Access to Information signed, ratification expected 1999 Romania National Strategy for Informatisation and Rapid Implementation of the Information Society, 1998 Law on Environmental Protection, 1995 (Equipping 48 Environmental Protection Agencies responsible for environmental monitoring). Law on Environmental Protection, 1995 International Convention on Access to Information signed, ratification expected 1999 Slovakia Strategy for the Implementation of the Information Society Policy, 1998 Environment Monitoring Concept, 1993  Concept for an Integrated Environmental Information System, 1992 Access to Environmental Information Act, 1998 Slovak Constitution, Section VII International Convention on Access to Information signed yet to be signed Slovenia   "Onix", a national database of all relevant environment and planning related information, operating from a uniform standard for environmental data exchange. Environmental Protection Act, Article 14, 1993 International Convention on Access to Information signed, ratification expected 2000 Environmental Protection Act, Article 14, 1993 International Convention on Access to Information signed, ratification expected 2000 The results of the CAPE survey on the Requirements and Framework for Environment and Transport Telematics Implementation shows that nearly all EU accession countries appear to have developed informational "concepts" within the last five years, supported usually by a corresponding information legal framework and (environmental) information system.   The objective being, to smooth electronic information exchange, in some cases to agree on standard and compatible data formats, and overall to improve information flow, access and transparency. It can be said that EU accession and the general need to improve informational efficiency in the light of current technological advances (particularly Internet growth) are among the driving forces.  This in stark contrast to the policy of previous decades where until the political changes of the late 1980's, information was maintained secretively and was not readily accessible and for many areas not even collected.

This page was last updated: 25 September, 2001