legislative
Accessing, using, and sharing data would not be possible without appropriate policies and established legislative frameworks. Establishing policies and frameworks that define data access and sharing contributes to the success of establishing the Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI).
INSPIRE DIRECTIVE
The general vision in many European countries is to create a virtual environment where spatial information will be available to users in the fastest and simplest way at any time and from any place. Establishing spatial data infrastructure is fundamental support for that vision.
To accelerate the development in the field of spatial data, the EU adopted the INSPIRE directive, which aims to unify and connect spatial data infrastructures. Infrastructure for Spatial Information (INSPIRE) is Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union dated 14 March 2007 concerning spatial data and supporting the creation of environmental policies. The INSPIRE directive came into force on 15 May 2007. INSPIRE forms the framework for spatial data infrastructures within EU Member States as well as states intending to become members. Therefore, INSPIRE guidelines can be considered mandatory for any further SDI activities.
The directive mandates all EU member states to establish spatial data infrastructures and ensure access to spatial data for all EU citizens.
The INSPIRE Directive applies to spatial data held by public authorities or held on their behalf and to the use of spatial data by public authorities in the performance of their public tasks. The INSPIRE Directive sets rules for metadata, interoperability of spatial data sets and services, web services, and data sharing.
INSPIRE is a framework directive, with detailed technical provisions defined in implementing rules and technical specifications. INSPIRE is based on existing spatial data infrastructures of Member States and does not require new data collection but demands harmonization of existing data.
LAW ON SPATIAL DATA INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE FEDERATION OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
The Law on SDI of the FBiH came into force on 24 July 2021, after being published in the Official Gazette of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, No. 55/21. This Law further defines the establishment, maintenance, and development of the Spatial Data Infrastructure of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (SDI FBiH), its content, as well as the establishment and competent bodies of the SDI FBiH.
It also specifies the composition, mandate, method of appointment and dismissal, powers of the Council of the SDI FBiH, the possibility of establishing working groups for specific tasks, as well as the functions of the Coordination Body of the SDI FBiH.
The Federal Administration for Geodetic and Property-Legal Affairs has been given a central role as the Coordination Body of the SDI FBiH, which, among other things, prepares operational programs of the Government of the FBiH in the field of the SDI FBiH, coordinates and supervises the implementation of implementing regulations adopted on the basis of the Law.
This law transposes Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 March 2007 establishing an Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community (INSPIRE). The Spatial Data Infrastructure should ensure the storage of spatial data, their accessibility, and maintenance at an appropriate level, i.e., the ability to consistently combine spatial data from various sources across the EU and exchange them, the ability to exchange spatial data collected at different levels of government, easy finding of available data, assessing their suitability for a specific purpose, and knowledge of the applicable conditions for their use. This law further defines the rules relating to the establishment of the SDI FBiH. By adopting the Law on SDI FBiH, conditions and the need for the development of subordinate regulations are created, i.e., implementing regulations in accordance with Article 14 of the Law on SDI.
STRATEGY FOR THE PERIOD 2023-2027
One of the activities that needed to be carried out in 2022 was the updating of the strategic document of the SDI FBiH, which would create further assumptions for servicing spatial data in the territory of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) in accordance with the INSPIRE Directive. Based on its powers, the Council proposed to the Government of the FBiH to adopt a new Strategy for the Spatial Data Infrastructure of FBiH for the period 2023-2027 (Strategy). The Government of the FBiH recognized the importance of the proposed document and adopted the Strategy at the 22nd session held on 12 December 2023. The Strategy for the Spatial Data Infrastructure of FBiH for the period 2023-2027 encompassed the preparation of the following strategic documents:
- Baseline assessment
- Strategic document
- Action Plan
The Strategy is in line with the Regulation on the Preparation of Strategic Documents in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and represents the second phase in the preparation of a strategic platform. The mentioned Strategy is an integrated, cross-sectoral strategic document that represents a new initiative in the public administration sector of FBiH and is part of the strategic approach of the European initiative linking spatial data infrastructures. The primary objective of the document “Strategy for the Spatial Data Infrastructure of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the period from 2023 to 2027” is to define priority objectives, projects, and activities that will contribute to the improvement and further development of the spatial data infrastructure of FBiH and meeting the requirements of EU directives, with the purpose of creating conditions for servicing spatial data in the territory of FBiH, BiH, and the broader region, all in accordance with the directive and trends in the European Union.