Helsinki: 18th January 2007

In preparations for the ePSI plus Finnish National meeting and the ePSI plus Pricing and charging meeting scheduled for 19 and 20 April 2007 in Helsinki a number of PSI stakeholders met informally to consider the way forward with respect to Finland maximising the potential from the re-use of public sector information.

Represented at the meeting

The meeting was positive and cooperative and the following bodies were represented at the meeting.

• Senior Adviser, Land Management, The Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities
• Managing Director, Foreca Consulting Ltd.
• Chief Executive Officer, Association of Independent Producers in Finland.
• Head of Knowledge Management, National Board of Antiquities.
• University of Art and Design Helsinki, School of Art and Media Pori,
• Executive Manager, National Association for Developing the Digital Content Industry in Finland.
• Commercial Counsellor, Ministry of Trade and Industry.
• Senior Officer, Ministry of Trade and Industry.
• ePSI plus National partner Mr P Paloheimo

Topics considered

The meeting considered amongst other items:

• The forth-coming ePSI plus Pricing and charging meeting
• The existing content of the ePSI plus web site – Europe’s one-stop shop to PSI.
• How to boost the Finnish content on the ePSI plus web site
• Forming an official PSI Group Finland.
• The implementation of the PSI Directive in Finland. (Refer to note below)
• Differences between Finland and other Member States with respect to the implementation of the PSI Directive and encouraging re-use of public sector information.

Agreed actions

A number of actions were agreed at the meeting but the key action was the agreement to submit a formal proposal to the Director General of the Ministry of Trade and Industry for the establishment of a PSI group for Finland.

Thanks

Thanks go to Mr Paavo Paloheimo (CAPP - a Consulting Agency with an interest in legal aspects of PSI re-use) for acting as the catalyst that brought the parties together in a harmonious and productive way, which bodes well for the future. Well done one and all that were involved at the meeting. CAPP is the ePSI plus thematic network national partner for Finland.

Worthy of consideration

Perhaps this very good lead (and initiative) from Finland is worth considering in other countries.

If you would like to join in a debate on the various ways the PSI Directive has been transposed within European Countries then a visit to the ePSI plus Forum where you can read the various topic threads and if you wish, join in the debate but you will need to be registered on the ePSI plus web site….well worth doing if you have an interest in PSI……the action is with YOU!

Note:

Finland has transposed the PSI Directive through existing legislation that includes:

• Självstyrelselag för Åland, 16.08.1991
• Laki viranomaisten toiminnan julkisuudesta, 31.05.1999
• Valtion maksuperustelaki, 21.02.1992