The European Parliament adopted by 550 votes to 1, with 2 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2007/2/EC as regards certain reporting requirements for infrastructures for spatial information.

The European Parliament adopted its position at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure, endorsing the Commission's proposal.

Parliament supports the proposal, which concerns limited and targeted amendments to Directive 2007/2/EC with a view to streamlining the reporting requirements for Member States to communicate information to the Commission.

The proposal introduces a two-year reporting cycle instead of an annual one. From 31 March 2025 and every two years thereafter, by 31 March at the latest, Member States will be required to update, where appropriate, a summary report and to publish it.

The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety adopted the report by Ivan Vilibor SINČIĆ (NI, HR) on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2007/2/EC as regards certain reporting requirements for infrastructures for spatial information.

The committee responsible recommended that the European Parliament adopt its position at first reading taking over the Commission's proposal.

Instead of the current annual reporting, Member States will report to the Commission every two years on specific reporting requirements relating to spatial information infrastructure in the field of the environment or activities that may affect the environment. This amendment to the Directive does not reduce monitoring or data collection by Member States.

From 31 March 2025, Member States will update a summary report every two years, no later than 31 March, which will be made available to the public.

The streamlining of reporting obligations in this proposal falls under the targeted category of reducing EU administration by 25%. As stated in the proposed amendment to this Directive, these changes relate to information such as utility networks, location of production and industrial facilities.

PURPOSE: to amend Directive 2007/2/EC as regards certain reporting requirements for infrastructures for spatial information.

PROPOSED ACT: Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council.

BACKGROUND: reporting requirements play a key role in ensuring proper monitoring and correct enforcement of legislation. They can however also impose disproportionate burdens on stakeholders, particularly affecting SMEs and micro-companies, also given organisational and technological developments that call for original reporting requirements to be adjusted. Their cumulation over time can result in redundant, duplicating or obsolete obligations, inefficient frequency and timing, or inadequate methods of collection.

Streamlining reporting obligations and reducing administrative burdens is therefore a priority.

Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council lays down general rules aimed at the establishment of the Infrastructure for Spatial Information, for the purposes of Union environmental policies and policies or activities which may have an impact on the environment. The Directive requires Members State to update, if necessary, and publish a report including, among other things, a summary description of the costs and benefits of implementing that Directive by 31 March of each year.

The evaluation of Directive 2007/2/EC concluded by the Commission in 2022 found that there is scope to make it technically more efficient by means of further administrative burden reduction.

In line with the Commission’s Communication on ‘ Long-term competitiveness of the EU: looking beyond 2030 ’, this proposal is part of a first package of measures to rationalise reporting requirements. This is a step in a process looking comprehensively at existing reporting requirements, with a view to assess their continued relevance and to make them more efficient.

CONTENT: the proposal concerns limited and targeted changes to Directive 2007/2/EC with a view to streamlining the reporting requirements .

The rationalisation of reporting obligations addressed by this proposal concern public authorities and may indirectly lead to reducing burden on businesses. More specifically, the less frequent reporting will lessen the burden on industries and utilities that are required to share datasets identified in the Annexes to the Directive such as utility networks, location of production and industrial facilities, etc. No new obligations are added.

The reporting obligation affected by this proposal will follow a biennial cycle instead of a yearly cycle.