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  • 8/3/2019 Topic Report 4: State of Play in Romania

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    EuropeanPublicSectorInformationPlatform

    TopicReportNo.2011/4

    StateofPlay:PSIre-useinRomania

    Author:DanielDittrich

    Published:October2011

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    Keywords

    Romania,PSIre-use,OpenGovernmentData,Legislation,Licensing,Pricemodels,Public

    Sector,OpenGovernment,Community,EU

    AbstractThelegislativeframeworkinRomaniaissettosupportthere-useofPSI.Aswithmanyother

    laws,implementationprovestobethemissinglinkduetolimitedinstitutionalcapacity.

    Properlegislationisinplacebutinpracticeimplementationislaggingbehind.

    RomanianCivilSocietyOrganisationsaretraditionallyactiveonRighttoAccessInformation

    andAnti-Corruptionissues.Howevertheyhaveonlyrecentlystartedworkingmoreactively

    onTransparencyandOpenData/PSIre-useissues.NewtypesofPSIre-userssuchasApp

    Developershavenotyetjointforceswithmoretraditionalcommercialre-users,suchasre-

    usersofgeodata.

    TheRomanianGovernmentisnotpro-activeonOpenGovernmentandOpenData/PSIre-useissues.SincePublicSectorBodiesinRomaniaarecurrentlyfacingbudgetaryconstrains

    andalackofresources,theyareunlikelytoimproveaccesstoPSIandfacilitatere-useofPSI

    untilpublicdemandrises.

    Currently,publicpressureforincreasedaccesstoPSIremainslimitedinspiteoftheactive

    participationofcivilsocietyorganisationsaroundtheissue.

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    Contents

    ExecutiveSummary.....................................................................................................................5

    1Introduction................................................................................................................................5

    2LegislativeFramework............................................................................................................6

    3ImplementationofthePSIDirectiveandINSPIRE.........................................................9

    4DoesthelegalframeworksupportPSIre-use?...................... ................. .................. ....11

    5GovernmentPolicy................ ................. .................. .................. .................. ................. ..........11

    6PublicSectorBodies(PSBs)............................ .................. .................. ................. ................13

    7PrivateSectorPSIre-users.................. .................. .................. ................. .................. ..........13

    8CivilSociety&otherPSIre-users.................. .................. .................. ................. ................14

    9Publicopinion&Media....... ................. .................. .................. .................. ................. ..........15

    10Conclusions.................. ................. .................. .................. .................. ................. .................. .16

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    Abstract

    ThelegislativeframeworkinRomaniaissettosupportthere-useofPSI.Aswithmany

    otherlaws,implementationprovestobethemissinglinkduetolimitedinstitutional

    capacity.Properlegislationisinplacebutinpracticeimplementationislaggingbehind.

    RomanianCivilSocietyOrganisationsaretraditionallyactiveonRighttoAccessInformation

    andAnti-Corruptionissues.Howevertheyhaveonlyrecentlystartedworkingmoreactively

    onTransparencyandOpenData/PSIre-useissues.NewtypesofPSIre-userssuchasApp

    Developershavenotyetjointforceswithmoretraditionalcommercialre-users,suchasre-

    usersofgeodata.

    TheRomanianGovernmentisnotpro-activeonOpenGovernmentandOpenData/PSIre-

    useissues.SincePublicSectorBodiesinRomaniaarecurrentlyfacingbudgetaryconstrains

    andalackofresources,theyareunlikelytoimproveaccesstoPSIandfacilitatere-useof

    PSIuntilpublicdemandrises.

    Currently,publicpressureforincreasedaccesstoPSIremainslimitedinspiteoftheactive

    participationofcivilsocietyorganisationsaroundtheissue.

    1 IntroductionThisreportaimstogiveanoverviewofthestateofplayforPSIre-useinRomania.Itcovers

    thelegislativeframeworksurroundingPSIre-use,spotlightsGovernmentpoliciesandthe

    practicesofPublicSectorBodies.ItalsohighlightscasesofPSIre-useintheprivatesectoraswellastheactivitiesbycivilsocietyorganisationsandgrassrootsinitiativesaroundthe

    issueinrecentyears.

    Romania'sadministrationisrelativelycentralised.AsinotherEUMemberStatesPSIre-use

    isimpacteddirectlyandindirectlybyavarietyoflawsandregulations.PSIre-useisdirectly

    regulatedbythenationalimplementationoftheECPSIandINSPIREDirectives,and

    indirectlyaffectedamongothersbylawsonRighttoAccessInformationandPrivacy.

    RomanianlegislationonPSIre-useiscomparablewithotherEUMemberStates.Thereis,

    howeveraspecificfeature:startingwith2008,re-useisfreeofchargesimilartotheAccesstoPublicInformationlegislation(Lawno.544/2001).

    AnotherspecificfeatureinRomaniaarisesfromthefactthatcorruptionisstillamajor

    issue.Therefore,severallawsrelatedtoanti-corruptionalsoaffectPSIre-use.PSI-related

    legislationisoftenusedbyNGOsorjournaliststryingtoaccessInformationonthe

    parliamentoronpublicsectorservantsorpoliticiansaspartoftheirengagementfor

    greatergovernmenttransparencyandaccountability.

    SimilartoothernewEUmemberstates,RomaniahasamodernConstitutionandthe

    legislativeframeworkinplaceisreadytosupportthere-useofPSI.Whilepublic

    organizationsthroughouttheworldarefacingbudgetaryconstraints,thelackofresources

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    isperhapsevenmoredramaticinRomania.Asidefromsimplylackingthemoneyandthe

    qualifiedhumanresources,Romanianpublicadministrativeauthorities(especiallythelocal

    levels)haveastrainedinstitutionalcapacity.Aswithmanyotherlaws,implementation

    provestobethemissinglinkduetothislimitedinstitutionalcapacity.

    2 LegislativeFrameworkAccordingtotheConstitutionofRomania,theadministrationofitsterritoryisorganized

    into41counties,211towns(urbanareas)and2827communes(ruralareas).Thenational

    capitalBucharesthasaspecialstatus.TheMunicipalityofBucharestisofficiallydividedinto

    sixsectors,eachsectorhavingalocalgovernmentandcouncil.

    Romaniaisasemi-presidentialRepublicwhereexecutivefunctionsareheldbyboth

    GovernmentandthePresident.Thepresidentiselectedbypopularvote.Thelegislative

    branchofthegovernmentistheParliamentwhichconsistsoftwochambers:theSenatewith140members,andtheChamberofDeputieswith346members.Themembersofboth

    chambersareelectedeveryfouryearsunderasystemofparty-listproportional

    representation.

    Romaniahasanindustrialized,openfree-marketeconomy,withalarge,moderately

    advancedprivatesectorandanumberofstrategicstate-ownedenterprises.TheWorld

    Bankclassifiesitasan"upper-middle-incomeeconomy"1withanominalGDPof$11,860

    percapitain2010.

    TheConstitutionofRomania2wasapprovedinanationalreferenduminDecember1991.

    AplebisciteheldinOctober2003approved79amendmentstotheConstitution,bringingit

    intoconformitywithEuropeanUnionlegislation.Article31oftheConstitutionguarantees

    therightofthepublictoaccessinformationofapublicinterest:

    Aperson'srightofaccesstoanyinformationofpublicinterestshallnotberestricted.

    Thepublicauthorities,accordingtotheircompetence,shallbeboundtoprovidecorrectinformationtothecitizensinpublicaffairsandmattersofpersonalinterest.

    TheLawRegardingFreeAccesstoInformationofPublicInterest3wasapprovedin

    October2001.Theimplementingregulationsofthelawstate,freeandunrestrained

    accesstoinformationofpublicinterestshallbetheruleandlimitationofaccessshallbe

    theexemption.Itallowsforanypersontoaskforinformationfrompublicauthoritiesand

    statecompanies.Theauthoritiesmustrespondin10days.

    1 CountryClassificationGroups.WorldBank.2005.Retrieved2008-08-31.

    2 http://www.cdep.ro/pls/dic/site.page?id=371

    3

    http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/unpan/unpan034189.pdf

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    Thereareexemptionsmadeforconcernsrelatedtonationalsecurity,publicsafetyand

    publicorder,deliberationsofauthorities,commercialorfinancialinterests,personal

    information,proceedingsduringcriminalordisciplinaryinvestigations,judicialproceedings,

    andinformationprejudicialtothemeasuresofprotectingtheyouth.

    Requeststoaccessinformationthataredenied,canbeappealledtotheagencyconcerned

    ortoacourt.Publicemployeescanbedisciplinedforrefusingtodiscloseinformation.The

    PeoplesAdvocate4(Ombudsman)canalsohearcomplaintsandmakerecommendations.

    Authoritiesmustalsopro-activelypublishawidevarietyofbasicinformationabouttheir

    structuresandactivitiesincludingtheirregisterofdocumentsinthepublicinterest.They

    arerequiredtosetupspecializeddivisionstodealwiththeAct.

    AccordingtotheRomanianCopyrightLaw5,3Art.9thefollowingshallnotbenefitfrom

    thelegalprotectionaccordedtocopyright:

    officialtextsofapolitical,legislative,administrativeorjudicialnature,andofficialtranslationsthereof;

    newsandpressinformation; simplefactsanddata.

    HoweveritremainsunclearastowhatextendPSIisaffectedbythis.

    TheLawonAccesstothePersonalFileandtheDisclosureoftheSecuritateasaPolitical

    Police6enactedin1999allowsRomaniancitizenstoaccesstheirSecuritate(theformer

    secretpolice)files.Italsoallowspublicaccesstothefilesofthoseaspiringforpublicoffice

    andotherinformationrelatingtotheactivitiesoftheSecuritate.Thelawsetupthe

    NationalCouncilfortheSearchofSecurityArchives7(CNSAS)toadministerthearchives.

    TheLawonProtectionofPersonsconcerningtheProcessingofPersonalDataandthe

    FreeCirculationofSuchData8enactedin2001allowsindividualstoaccessandcorrectpersonalinformationheldbypublicorprivatebodies.ItisenforcedbytheNational

    AuthorityfortheSupervisionofPersonalDataProcessingwhichwascreatedin2005.

    4 http://www.avp.ro/indexen.html

    5 http://www.legi-internet.ro/en/copyright.htm

    6 http://www.cdep.ro/legislatie/eng/vol44eng.pdf

    7 http://www.cnsas.ro/

    8 http://www.avp.ro/leg677en.html

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    TheLawonNationalArchives9setstherulesonaccesstoinformationinarchives.

    Anti-CorruptionLegislation

    AccordingtotheNationalSecurityStrategy,corruptionhasbecomeadirectthreatand,

    therefore,ataskforthePresident(anditsstaff)asChairmanoftheNationalSupreme

    DefenceCouncil.TheAnti-CorruptionStrategy10adoptedinApril2005hasasamissionto

    preventandcountercorruptionbyrefiningandrigorouslyimplementthelegalframework,

    troughlegislativecoherenceandstabilityandbyinstitutionalstrengtheningoftheentities

    withimportanttasksinthisfield.

    TheLawonPreventing,DiscoveringandSanctioningofCorruptionActs11(May2000)

    institutesmeasuresagainstcorruptionactsandappliestopublicofficials,whoare

    compelledtoexercisetheirfunctionsbystrictlyobservingtherulesofprofessionalconduct,

    andtoensurecarryingoutofthelegitimaterightsofthecitizens,withoutusingtheirpositionsfortheobtainingofmoney,goodsorotherundueadvantages.

    TheLawondecisionaltransparencyinPublicAdministration12(February2003)

    establishestheminimalproceduralrulesenforceabletoensuredecisionaltransparency

    withinpublicauthoritiesinordertoincreaseresponsibilityofpublicadministrationtoward

    thecitizens,tostimulateactiveparticipationofthecitizensintheadministrativedecision-

    makingprocessandtoincreasetransparencyinpublicadministration.

    TheLawontheStatuteofCivilServants13(December1999)definesthebasicprinciplesof

    exercisingthepublicpositions:tocarryouttheiractivitiesfreeofcorruption,abuseof

    powerandpoliticalpressures.CivilServantsareprohibitedtoacceptdirectlyorindirectly,

    inconsiderationoftheirpublicpositions,giftsorotheradvantages.Theyarealso

    prohibitedtodirectlyreceivepetitionsthesolutionsofwhicharewithintheircompetency.

    9 http://www.apador.org/en/legi/lege_16_1996_e.rtf

    10 http://km.undp.sk/uploads/public/File/AC_Practitioners_Network/romania_anti_corruptio

    n_srategy.pdf

    11

    http://km.undp.sk/uploads/public/File/AC_Practitioners_Network/Romania_Law_78-

    2000_updated_Nov_2006.doc

    12

    http://km.undp.sk/uploads/public/File/AC_Practitioners_Network/romania_law_on_decisi

    onal_transparency_in_PAR.pdf

    13

    http://km.undp.sk/uploads/public/File/AC_Practitioners_Network/Romania_Civil_Servants

    _Law.pdf

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    TheLawonPublicInternalAudit14regulatesthepublicinternalauditatpublicentities

    withrespecttopublicincome,theuseofpublicfundsandthemanagementofpublic

    patrimony.

    3 ImplementationofthePSIDirectiveandINSPIRE

    InlinewiththeprovisionsofEuropeanCommissionDirectiveonthere-useofPublicSector

    Information(PSI),Directive2003/98/EC15,Romaniahasinformed16theECthatithas

    transposedtheDirectiveintoitsnationallegislation.InApril2007theRomanianParliament

    adoptedtheLawno.109/2007onthereuseofpublicsectorinformation.Asinmanyother

    Europeancountries,thelegislativebodyoptedforadoptingaseparateactfromthealready

    existingLawonaccesstopublicinformation(Lawno.544/2001).

    PricingModelsforPSI

    Chargescouldbeleviedforthereuseoftheinformation,butthelawhassetoutstrict

    provisionsontheamountthatcouldbecharged.Before2008,whenthelawwasamended,

    thetotalincomefromthechargeforreusecouldnotexceedthesumofthecostof

    collection,production,reproductionanddisseminationofthedocuments.After2008the

    chargeislimitedtothecostofcopyingthedocuments,socalledmarginalcosts.

    Commercialandnon-commercialreuse

    Thelawdistinguishesbetweencommercialandnon-commercialreuse.Non-commercial

    reuseisbasedonafreeaccess,nochargesincurredmodel.Itisnothoweverclearwhat

    thedifferenceisbetweenfreeaccesstopublicinformationandnon-commercialreuse.The

    commercialreuse,ontheotherhand,wassubjectedtofeesuntil2008,whenthelawwas

    modifiedinordertopermitreuseforfree.

    ExclusiveAgreements

    Oneofthemostimportantprovisionsofthelawrelatestoexclusivityarrangements.The

    lawprohibitspublicsectorbodiesfromenteringintoexclusivearrangementswithanyapplicant,unlessthisisnecessaryfortheprovisionofaserviceinthepublicinterest.

    14

    http://km.undp.sk/uploads/public/File/AC_Practitioners_Network/Romania_Law_on_Publi

    c_Intenal_Audit.pdf

    15 http://eur-

    lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32003L0098:EN:NOT

    16

    http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/policy/psi/actions_ms/implementation/index_en.htm

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    IntheStudyReusingPublicSectorInformation-PolicyChoicesandExperiencesinsome

    oftheMemberStateswithanemphasisontheCaseofRomania17byDacianC.Dragos

    andBogdanaNeamtupublishedatEIoPinAugust2009theAuthorsanalysethe

    implementationofthePSIDirective:

    AftertheadoptionoftheReuseLawno.109/2007,theEuropeanCommission

    pointedoutinalettertotheRomanianMinistryofCommunicationandInformation

    TechnologyfromJuly2007thatthetranspositionoftheDirectiveonreuseintothe

    nationallegislationhasbeendonewithsomeerrorswhichhadtobecorrected.

    Thus,Lawno.213/2008wasadoptedfortheamendmentofLawno.109/2007.The

    amendmentsincorporatedtherecommendationsreceivedfromtheEuropean

    Commission.Theyconcernthefollowingissues:

    1. TheCommissionhighlightedtheintentionoftheEuropeanlegislatortoallowthereuseofPSIregardlessofwhetherornotpublicinstitutionshavecopyrightsforthat

    information.Theinitialtextexcludedcopyrightprotectedinformationfromreuse,

    evenifitsholdersorproducerswerepublicbodies.

    2. TheCommissionalsopointedoutthatthenon-discriminatoryprovisionsregardingthereusehavenotbeenproperlytransferredintonationallegislation.Thus,anew

    articlewasaddedreaffirmingthenon-discriminatoryconditionsforthereuseof

    similartypesofdocuments.

    3. TheCommissionconsideredthatthedeadlinestatedinthenationallegislationforsolvingtherequestsforreuseisinadequate.Intheinitialversionofthelaw,itwas

    statedthattherequestshouldbesolvedin20daysfromthemomentwhenthe

    departmentinchargereceivestherequest.Thisprovisionwasamendedandthe20daysdeadlinestartsfromthemomentwhenarequestislodgedwiththepublic

    institution.

    4. Perhapsthemostsignificantchangetothelawwastheeliminationoffeesforthereuse.Initially,publicinstitutionswereallowedtochargeafeeforreusethatwould

    havecoveredthecostsincurredtopublicinstitutionsforthepreparation,

    generationanddisseminationofpublicsectorinformation.TheCommissionargued

    thatitwouldbevirtuallyimpossiblefortheGovernmenttosetsomeclear

    standardsforcalculatingsuchfeesthatwouldbeapplicableinallsectors.Italso

    pointedoutthatthemaingoaloftheDirectiveistotriggerreuseforcommercial

    purposesandnottoallowpublicinstitutionstomakemoneyoutofit.Initscurrent

    form,theRomanianlawonreuseallowspublicinstitutionstochargeafeeonlyif

    thereisacopyingcostassociatedwithmakingavailableforreusetherequested

    documents/information.

    RomaniasignedtheAarhusConventioninJune1998andratifieditinJuly2000.

    GovernmentalDecisionno.878/200518implementsEUDirective2003/4/ECandsetsrules

    onpublicaccesstoenvironmentalinformation.

    17 http://eiop.or.at/eiop/index.php/eiop/article/view/2009_004a

    18 http://www.apador.org/en/legi/hot_1115_2002_e.rtf

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    TheINSPIREDirective2007/2/EC19of14March2007establishinganInfrastructurefor

    SpatialInformationintheEuropeanCommunityenteredintoforceon15May2007willbe

    implementedinvariousstages,withfullimplementationrequiredby2019.TheRomanian

    EnvironmentalSDICisincludingalltheinstitutionsthatarecontractedbytheRomanian

    MinistryofEnvironmentanditssubordinatedbodiesinprojectsrelatedtoINSPIRE

    Directiveimplementation20atthenationallevel.

    4 DoesthelegalframeworksupportPSIre-use?LikeothernewEUmemberstates,RomaniahasamodernConstitutionandthelegislative

    frameworkissuitedtosupportthere-useofPSI.However,PublicSectorBodiesinRomania

    facebudgetaryconstrainsandalsoalackofhumanandphysicalresources.Asresultof

    budgetaryconstraintsandqualifiedhumanresources,RomanianPSBs(especiallyatthe

    locallevel)havestrainedinstitutionalcapacities.Aswithmanyotherlaws,implementation

    hasthusproventobethemainbottleneck.Whiletheproperlegislativeframeworkisin

    place,inpracticeimplementationandlawenforcementisoftennotsatisfyingly realised.

    5 GovernmentPolicyTheRomanianGovernmentdecidedtoallocate1.9billionlei(500millionEuro)forthe

    implementationoftheNationale-Governmentportale-Romaniaforthetimeperiod2010-

    2013.Thisportalwillofferavarietyofe-Governmentfunctionsandservicesonline,suchas

    payingtaxes,accessingofficialdocumentsandevenelectronicvoting.Accordingtomedia

    reports21thecostoftheprojecthassurprisedexpertsinthefield.ThePriceisbeyondall

    limits,saysexpertSergiuBirisfromTrilulilu,oneofthemostsuccessfulITcompaniesin

    Romania.Ihavenotheardofaportalthat,nomatterhowcomplex,wouldcostmorethan

    1millionBirissaid.

    AccordingtoaNationalPoll22carriedoutfromApriltoMay2010byInstituteforPublic

    Policy(IPP)mostNGOsdonotparticipateinlegislativeprocesseswhilelawmakerswould

    liketoinvolvethemmoreandthushavethemprovidemoreinputintothelaw-making

    process.

    NeelieKroes,Vice-PresidentoftheEuropeanCommission,visitedRomaniainJuly2011and

    spokeatthefirsteverRomanianDigitalAgendaConference.ShemetwiththePresident,

    PrimeMinister,andtheMinisterforCommunicationsandInformationSocietytotalkabout

    theimportanceofgettingeveryEuropeanDigital,andthechallengesfacedbyRomaniain

    19 http://eur-

    lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32007L0002:EN:NOT

    20 http://inspire.jrc.ec.europa.eu/index.cfm/pageid/42/list/7/id/31007

    21 http://www.dailybusiness.ro/stiri-it-c/afacerea-secolului-in-industria-it-pret-

    umflat-de-500-de-ori-pentru-portalul-e-romania-investitia-s-ar-amortiza-in-300-de-ani-

    39989/

    22 http://ipp.ro/pagini/sondaj-na539ional-ongurile-nu-partic.php

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    particular.KroeshighlightstheimportanceofpayerslikeEOS23,IREX24andMicrosoft25

    activelyengagedandincooperationwithpublicauthorities,librariesandschoolstoget

    Romaniaonline.

    TheEuropeanInnovationScoreboard200926bytheEuropeanCommissionDirectorate-

    GeneralforEnterpriseandIndustrylistsRomaniatogetherwithBulgariaandLatviainthe

    groupofcatching-upcountries,withinnovationperformancesignificantlybelowthe

    EU27average.However,accordingtothescoreboard,allthreecountriesarerapidlyclosing

    theirgaptotheaverageperformanceleveloftheEU27.RomaniaandBulgariahavebeen

    improvingtheirperformancethefastestofallMemberStates.

    TheUnitedNationsE-GovernmentSurvey2010Leveraginge-governmentatatimeof

    financialandeconomiccrisis27,publishedbytheUnitedNationsPublicAdministration

    Network(UNPAN)indicatesthatalloftheEuropeanMemberStatesareinthetop50

    world-wide.WhileRomaniaisthelastoftheEUtheWebsiteoftheMinistryofFinanceof

    Romaniascoredhighfortheregionduetotheavailabilityofanumberofe-servicesaswell

    asextensivecontent.

    AccordingtotheFreedomHouseSurveyon FreedomintheWorld201128Romaniascores

    2onPoliticalRightsand2onCivilLiberties(onscaleof1-7,with1representingthehighest

    leveloffreedomand7,thelowest).TheoverallstatusisconsideredasFree.

    IntheGlobalIntegrityReport201029carriedoutbytheCenterforPublicIntegrity

    RomaniasOverallRatingisModerate(79of100)ThegapbetweenthesorefortheLegal

    Framework(95of100)andtheActualImplementation(64of100)illustratestheproblem.

    OnPublicRequestsforGovernmentInformationthesoreis58of100.FromtheReport:

    BecauseofitscompliancewithEUaccessionmandates,Romaniaearnsasparkling

    ratingforitsoveralllegalframeworkincombatingcorruption.However,the

    implementationandenforcementofthatlegalframeworkleavemuchtobe

    desired.Whistle-blowingmeasuresinthepublicsectordoexist,buttheycontinue

    tobeineffectivelargelybecauseofinadequatestaffingandfunding.

    IntheCorruptionPerceptionsIndex201030fromTransparencyInternationalRomanias

    23 http://www.eos.ro/

    24 http://www.irex.ro/

    25 http://www.microsoft.com/romania/educatie/partners_in_learning/default.aspx

    26 http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/10/82

    27 http://www2.unpan.org/egovkb/global_reports/10report.htm

    28 http://www.freedomhouse.org/images/File/fiw/FIW_2011_Booklet.pdf

    29 http://www.globalintegrity.org/report/Romania/2010/

    30 http://www.transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/cpi/2010/in_detail

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    scoreis3.7(Relatestoperceptionsofthedegreeofcorruptionasseenbybusinesspeople

    andcountryanalystsandrangesbetween10-highlycleanand0-highlycorrupt).

    AlsotheWorldBankIndicatorsforGoodGovernance31indicatethatthereisspacefor

    improvementforRomaniansGovernmentandAdministration.(Percentilerank-indicates

    rankofcountryamongallcountriesintheworld.0correspondstolowestrankand100

    correspondstohighestrank.)

    1.VoiceandAccountability:59.12.PoliticalInstabilityandViolence:56.03.GovernmentEffectiveness:50.24.RegulatoryQuality:67.65.RuleofLaw:53.66.ControlofCorruption:57.0

    6 PublicSectorBodies(PSBs)IntheStudyReusingPublicSectorInformation-PolicyChoicesandExperiencesinsome

    oftheMemberStateswithanemphasisontheCaseofRomania32byDacianC.Dragos

    andBogdanaNeamtupublishedatEIoPinAugust2009theauthorsanalysetheissueofthe

    commercialreuseofPSI.

    OneofthechallengesspecificforRomaniaisthelimitedcapacityofpublicinstitutionsto

    handletheprocessofre-useinatimelyandefficientmanner.Theimplementationofthe

    PSIDirectiveintonationallawplacedanobligationonpublicsectorbodiestolistthemain

    documentsintheirpossessionthatareavailableforre-useinAssetLists.Howeverthe

    findingsofthestudyindicatetheseAssetListswerenotinplace:

    Thewebsitesoftwonationalagenciesresponsibleforcadastralandweather

    informationaswellastheonesofalltheministrieswerescrutinizedinorderto

    determineifthereareanyinformationassetlistspostedoranyotherrelevant

    informationonreuse.Inallcasesnosuchinformationwaspostedonline.

    TheNationalIntegrityAgency(ANI)runsawebsitecalledStatementsofAssetsand

    Interestswhichcontainspublicinformation,about1.6millionstatementsofassetsand

    interestscompletedbydifferentcategoriesofcivilservants.Theinformationcomesfrom

    hard-copydocuments,scannedandpostedinelectronicformat(.pdf)inadatabase.

    Vehicleandlicenseregistrationdatahasbeenmadeaccessibletothepubliconlinebythe

    DirectorateforDrivingLicensesandVehicleRegistration.33

    31 http://info.worldbank.org/governance/wgi/sc_country.asp

    32 http://eiop.or.at/eiop/index.php/eiop/article/view/2009_004a

    33 http://www.drpciv.ro/info-portal/displayStatistics.do?resetForm=true

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    7 PrivateSectorPSIre-usersBogdanManolea,RomanianITLawexpert,reports34fromameetinginMarch2011with

    representativesfromtheGovernmentandMicrosoftRomania.MicrosoftandtheInstitute

    forCulturalMemory35(CIMEC)havealreadystartedworkonalocalprojectpublishing

    someofthedataofCIMECasopendatausingMicrosofsOpenGovernmentDataInitiative36(OGDI)solutioninthecloud.AdrianStanescu,representativeofMinistryof

    CommunicationsandInformationSociety37(MCSI),saidtheMinistryisworkingona

    frameworkforinteroperabilityanddataexchange.Theprojectsresultwillbeadata

    register(whereinformationwillbeenteredbyinstitutionsthatgenerateandupdatethat

    information,e.g.RomanianPostalServicesforpostalcodes)thatwillmakeinformation

    availabletopublicasopendata.

    Othercommercialre-usersofPSIincludegeodatare-users,38monitorsofpublic

    auctions39andre-useofdataforcarregistrations.40

    8 CivilSociety&otherPSIre-userseHartaHistoricalMaps41isacollectionofthousandsofoldgeo-referencedmaps,

    publishedanddocumentedwiththehelpofthecommunity.Thedataispublishedbygeo-

    spatial.org-acollaborativeonlineplatformaimingtofacilitatethesharingofgeo-spatial

    knowledgeandthediscoveryandpublishingoffreegeographicdatasetsandmapsforthe

    Romaniancommunity.

    VasileCrciunescuthecreatorofeHartaHistoricalMapshasbeenawardedwiththe

    BetterDataAwardintheEuropewideOpenDataChallenge42.NeelieKroes,Vice

    PresidentoftheEuropeanCommissionpersonallyhandedtheawardstothewinnersattheDigitalAgendaAssembly(DAA)on24June2011inBrussels.Thiswasalsocovered43by

    34 http://legi-internet.ro/blogs/index.php/2011/03/11/open-data-romania-date-

    deschise

    35 http://www.cimec.ro/

    36 http://dev.govdata.eu/

    37 http://www.mcsi.ro/

    38 Seeforexample:http://www.brantax.com/,http://www.mikon.ro/ro/servicii/aplicatii-gis-si-de-mediu.htmland

    http://www.ingr.ro/solutii_geospatiale/

    39 http://www.info-licitatie.ro/agentieconomici/2-seap

    40

    http://apia.softnet.ro/index.php?mact=News%2ccntnt01%2cdetail%2c0&cntnt01articleid=

    5&cntnt01origid=15&cntnt01returnid=15

    41 http://earth.unibuc.ro/articole/eHarta?lang=en

    42 http://opendatachallenge.org/

    43 http://www.wall-street.ro/articol/IT-C-Tehnologie/99933/Energia-in-UE-Cum-sa-

    intelegi-statisticile-in-cateva-minute.html

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    WallStreetJournalRomania.

    TheInstitutulpentruPoliticiPublice44(englisch:InstituteforPublicPolicy-IPP)isa

    Romaniannon-governmentalorganizationthatadvocatesforimprovingthequalityof

    policymakingprocessesinRomania.

    IPPcarriesoutresearchandadvocacyinareassuchaspublicadministrationreform,

    transparencyofinstitutionsandtheintegrityofelectedofficials.ItopenedtheCenterfor

    PublicPolicySupport45,whichgivesallstakeholdersaccesstoresourcesandthe

    opportunitytobenefitfromtechnicalassistancefreeofchargeinthepreparationand

    evaluationofpublicpolicies.ForoverfiveyearstheIPPhassoughttoassertandprotect

    therightofaccesstopublicinformation.

    TheIPPhascreatedawebsitewithstructureddataabouttheRomanianParliamentcalled

    AlesiiVoteaza(englisch:electedvoting).AlesiiVoteaza46istrackingthethelawmaking

    processandtheactivitiesofSenatorsandDeputies.Mostdataistakenfromthetwo

    websitesofParliamentwww.cdep.roandwww.senat.roandthePermanentElectoral

    Authority47.TheDataisdisplayedinawaysoitcanefficientlyandeasilybeexploredand

    searched.Thesitewasfirstlaunchedin2006andredesignedin2010.

    AdrianMoraru,deputydirectorwithIPPexplainsinaninterview48howtheyhavehadto

    obtainmuchoftheirParliamentarydatabycourtaction:

    Youaregoodatusingthelawtoobtaininformation.Canyoutellusabitabout

    yourapproach,andwhatinformationyouveobtainedthroughthecourts?

    Thisisaverydistincttopic.WealwaysaskforinformationviaourFreedomof

    Informationact,usingaspecialformatofletterwhichcannotbecompletely

    ignored.Wehavelawyersfollowingtheflowofrequeststogetherwithanoffice

    managerandwesueeverytimewedonotgetananswer,haveourrequestdenied

    orfindthatinformationwevebeenprovidedwithisincomplete.

    Weaskforalot.Alot!Usuallywefightfordatathatexposesbadpracticesand

    mostofthethingsinvolvingexpensesormoney.Itisherewherethereisalotto

    hurtbadpoliticiansbyexposinghowunwiselysomeofthemarespendingthe

    money.

    Do you ever faceclaims thatthe effects you haveon politicians arent entirely

    positive?Ifso,howdoyourespond?

    44 http://www.ipp.ro/

    45 http://www.ipp.ro/pagini/centrului-de-suport-pentru-politici-publ.php

    46 http://www.alesiivoteaza.ro/

    47 http://www.roaep.ro/

    48 http://www.mysociety.org/2007/10/04/interview-with-romanian-edemocracy-

    site-builder-adrian-moraru/

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    Yeslargepartsofthedatabaseshurtsa lotofthemagreatdeal.Letsjustsaywe

    arenotscared.Butontheotherhandwestrivetogetthebestdataandtopresent

    itinanonaggressive,nonbiasedwayusingthebestalgorithms.

    GuvernareLocala49(englisch:LocalGovernment)isaplatformfornewsregardingthelocal

    administration.ItisisdevelopedbyIPPwithfinancialsupportfromtheTrustforCivil

    SocietyinCentralandEasternEurope(CEETrust).

    9 Publicopinion&MediaThereislittleattentioninmassmediaspecifictothere-useofPSI.Therearehoweversome

    exceptionslikeMirceaSarbuswriting50ondatajournalismfortheBusinessMagazine.

    Thereisalsoagrowingattentionto,andcoverageof,PSIre-useinspecialisedblogs51and

    onsocialmedialikeTwitter52.

    ThereisanactiveCivilSocietywithnumerouswellestablishedNGOspromoting

    GovernmentTransparency,AccountabilityandAnti-Corruption.Theiractivities,projects

    andcampaignsoftenprovetoattractmediaattentionverywellandsotheyplaya

    significantroleinthepublicdebate.

    10ConclusionsThelegalframeworksurroundingPSIre-useinRomaniaisuptodateandandinlinewith

    EUregulations.Intheory,thesesupportPSIre-usebuttheimplementationofthelawsand

    lawenforcement,especiallyonthelocallevel,doesnotcorrespondtothehighlevelofthe

    legislationinplace.Administrativestructureslackfinancial,personalandinstitutional

    capacityforproperimplementation.Nonetheless,therehavebeensomeinitiativesbyPSBs

    andthegovernmenthasembarkedonanambitiouse-governmentprogramme.

    CommercialPSIre-usehasbeenmostlyrestrictedtotraditionalre-usersbutnewplayers

    areincreasinglyshowinginterestinPSIre-use.AnumberofcommittedCSOsareactiveon

    PSIissuesbutwhilethereispublicinterestinincreasedtransparencyandaccessto

    information,thishasnotbeeneffectivelyarticulatedtodate,thusthereislittlepolitical

    pressurearoundtheissue.MediaandcivilsocietywatchdogshaveactivelyusedPSI

    49 http://www.guvernarelocala.ro/

    50 http://www.businessmagazin.ro/opinii/jurnalism-cu-cifre-7458352

    51 http://legi-internet.ro/blogs/index.php/2011/03/11/open-data-romania-date-

    deschise

    52 http://twitter.com/#!/OpenDataBG

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    S l f i / O b

    legislationforanti-coirruptionpurposes.

    About the Author

    DanielDietrich,born1973inFrankfurt,Germany.Hisacademicworksurroundspoliticalscience,computerscienceandcommunicationscienceinFrankfurtandBerlin.Heworksas

    ResearchAssociateatTechnicalUniversityBerlin,DepartmentofInternetandSociety.Heis

    workingpart-timefortheOpenKnowledgeFoundation(OKF),since2009.Heistheofficial

    representativeandtheChairmanoftheGermanChapteroftheOpenKnowledge

    Foundation.IamtheProjectCoordinatorfortheOKFProjectOpenDefinitionaswellasthe

    CoordinatoroftheWorkingGrouponOpenGovernmentDataandtheWorkingGroupon

    OpenDataintheEU.Heisalsoco-founderandChairmanoftheOpenDataNetwork,anon-

    profitadvocacyorganisationtopromotetheOpenData,OpenGovernmentand

    TransparencyinGermanyandbeyond.In2011hebecameEditoroftheePSIplatform.

    Copyright information

    2011EuropeanPSIPlatform-Thisdocumentandallmaterialthereinhasbeencompiled

    withgreatcare.However,theauthor,editorand/orpublisherand/oranypartywithinthe

    EuropeanPSIPlatformoritspredecessorprojectstheePSIplusNetworkprojectorePSINet

    consortiumcannotbeheldliableinanywayfortheconsequencesofusingthecontentof

    thisdocumentand/oranymaterialreferencedtherein.Thisreporthasbeenpublished

    undertheauspicesoftheEuropeanPublicSectorInformationPlatform.

    ThereportmaybereproducedprovidingacknowledgementismadetotheEuropeanPublic

    SectorInformation(PSI)Platform.The EuropeanPublicSectorInformation(PSI)

    PlatformisfundedundertheEuropeanCommissioneContentplusprogramme.