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Simplification of certain requirements for spatial information infrastructure in the Union (INSPIRE) (Omnibus VIII on environmental legislation)

TA-10-2026-0325 · P10_TA(2026)0325 · PE787.833

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Parliament's amended version of a proposed directive amending Directive 2007/2/EC on the Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the Union (INSPIRE) simplifies requirements for environmental spatial data. It keeps voluntary linking of third-party spatial data sets to services, subject to Union data governance and data sharing rules, and lightens the network of spatial data services. It replaces Article 7 with rules requiring open, documented, vendor-neutral and geospatial standards, including ISO and Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) API standards, without impairing cross-border use. It rewrites Article 11 so member states ensure spatial data sets are available and accessible under Directive (EU) 2019/1024, and Article 12 so public authorities and compliant third parties can link data sets to services. It narrows public access limits to necessary and proportionate cases, and rewrites Article 17 to require access and exchange of spatial data between public authorities and to refer re-use to Directive (EU) 2019/1024.

Key points

  1. Adds recitals stating that high-quality, reliable and comparable environmental data are essential for Union environmental law and policy, including biodiversity, water, soil, pollution and climate adaptation.
  2. Adds a recital that accessible and interoperable environmental spatial data can reduce administrative burdens and improve environmental assessments, permitting and public decision-making while maintaining a high level of protection.
  3. Keeps voluntary linking of third parties' spatial data sets to relevant services where they comply with Union law on data governance and data sharing, in particular on metadata, quality, access conditions and interoperability.
  4. States that simplification should not reduce comparability, consistency or interoperability of spatial data across the Union, and that changes should preserve the quality and discoverability of data already available.
  5. Lightens the network of spatial data services, limiting it to clarification on technical arrangements for discovery and access while preserving voluntary third-party contributions.
  6. Replaces Article 7 with a requirement that provision of spatial data sets and services, including through application programming interfaces, be based on open, documented, vendor-neutral and geospatial standards such as ISO and OGC API standards.
  7. Requires member states to ensure that technical solutions do not impair cross-border discoverability, accessibility, usability and re-use of spatial data.
  8. Rewrites Article 11 so member states ensure spatial data sets within the directive's scope are made available and accessible in accordance with Directive (EU) 2019/1024, including through technical arrangements for discovery and access.
  9. Rewrites Article 12 so public authorities can link their spatial data sets to relevant services under Union data governance and data sharing law, and third parties can do so on request if their data sets meet metadata and interoperability requirements.
  10. Allows member states to limit public access to spatial data sets and services only where necessary and proportionate and where access could adversely affect listed interests.
  11. Rewrites Article 17 to require member states to ensure public authorities can access and exchange spatial data covered by the directive needed for public tasks with an environmental impact.
  12. Provides that re-use of public sector information is governed by Directive (EU) 2019/1024 and other Union legislation, and that member states may adopt national measures to ensure effective access for the purposes of paragraph 1.

Who is affected

  • Member states: must ensure spatial data sets are available and accessible, apply open standards, and enable data exchange between public authorities.
  • Public authorities: gain the technical possibility to link spatial data sets to services and to access and exchange data for environmental public tasks.
  • Third parties: may link their spatial data sets to services on a voluntary basis if they comply with Union data governance and interoperability requirements.
  • The Commission: may adopt implementing acts laying down rules on quality, access and use conditions and validation metadata.

Figures and deadlines

  • 2050: the year by which the text cites achievement of climate neutrality and healthy soils as Union objectives.