COGI : Mandate
By means of a coherent data policy, COGI will work to co-ordinate
and promote the pertinent use of geographic information (GI) within the services
of the Commission, whilst ensuring the application of common technical GI standards.
The aim is to improve the capacity, cost-effectiveness and efficiency of European
policy operations that require spatial data and analyses for the European territory.
This will be done by developing strategies to
- improve the availability of GI within the services of the Commission,
mainly by proposing the joint acquisition of basic GI, where this complies with
common specifications and meets the needs of multiple users,
- improve the level of awareness amongst middle and higher management
within the Commission, of the value of geographic information and the power
of relevant software tools and how it can contribute to the work of the European
public service and eGovernment,
- develop a data policy to be adhered to by all Commission services when
adopting proposals for the collection of Geographic Information via Community
policy and legislation and when disseminating this information to outside users
at the lowest possible price, thereby stimulating the market for value-added
services building on these data,
- reduce duplication of effort through better co-ordination between individual
projects within the various services of the Commission.
The COGI group will arrive at a common position through an on-going review of
relevant work being undertaken at its different sites. Account will also be
taken of any relevant external consultations undertaken by the services concerned.
After authorisation by the Commission at a political level, other European institutions
and agencies will be consulted. The lead service will undertake to liaise with
key producers and users in order to ensure the widest possible application of
the group's work.