Commission sets up Marine Observation and Data Expert Group
Data on oceans and seas are available from many sources but assembling them for particular applications takes considerable effort and there is no overall policy for keeping them for posterity. An objective of the EU's new maritime policy is to integrate existing, but fragmented initiatives in order to facilitate access to primary data for public authorities, maritime services, related industries and researchers. The European Marine Observation and Data Network should open up opportunities for high technology commercial companies in the maritime sector, improve the efficiency of activities such as marine observation, management of marine resources and marine research in European laboratories. Integrated with GEOSS and GMES, it will increase the precision of estimates of the magnitude and impact of climate change. The European Commission, with the support of a specially constituted expert group, will prepare by 2009 an EU action plan to make progress in this area on the basis of a road map to be published in 2008. It will provide an overview of the main data and information service categories to be covered and some of their sources and uses, as well as examples of benefits and added value of better integration, and clarify how this initiative relates to other initiatives. In the second half of 2008 it will also propose a programme for the development of mutually compatible and multi-dimensional mapping of seas in Member States' waters.
Internet: http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/eu-marine-observation-da...
Posted on: 26.05.2008