Re-use of information and open data
The re-use of information is the right of users enabled by the provisions of the Right of Access to Information Act of 2013 and further reinforced by the Amendments to the Act of 2015, upon the adoption of the EU Reuse Directive. It is about information held by public authorities, which are suitable for re-use as registers, databases, records or other types of information, so that they can be used by computer for the development of applications. The re-use of information and the open data, published on the internet free of charge for free use to all, are drivers of the European digital market.
Reuse means the use of information of public authorities by natural or legal persons for commercial or non-commercial purposes other than the original purpose for which the information was generated within the framework of a statutory or other regulation of a given scope of work, or within the activities that are normally considered as a public affairs. (RAIA, Article 5, paragraph 6).
The public authorities are obliged to ensure the exercise of the right of access to information and the re-use of information. The list of public authorities is available at tjv.pristupinfo.hr.
The Role of the Information Commissioner
The Information Commissioner is in charge for dealing with appeals concerning requests for re-use of information, inspection supervision and handling of remostrances. Also, the Commissioner regularly carries out the monitorings of disclosure of dana for re-use. The monitoring reports are available here:
Reporting to European Commission
The Information Commissioner for submits the report on the implementation of the EU RE-use Directive to European Commission’s. The report is available here:
http://www.pristupinfo.hr/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Reuse-report-Croatia-2017.pdf
Manual on Reuse of Information and Open Data for Public Authorities
The Information Commission has published the manual named „Open Data for All: Information Use Manual for Public Authorities“, which fully and comprehensively elaborates the responsibilities of public authorities to ensure the re-use of information and disclosure of open data.
See also the infographics about open data (HR)
Pursuant to Article 28 paragraph 1, for the purpose of encouraging and facilitating the reuse of information, the public authorities are ensure to make the information available for re-use, together with metadata, in a machine readable and open form, in accordance with open standards.
Subordinate legislation
- Ordinance on the content and manner of keeping records of exclusive rights to reuse information (OG 20/2016)
The Ordinance regulates the content, form and manner of keeping the Records of Exclusive Rights for Reuse of Information led by the Information Commissioner, which contains information on decisions and contracts (agreements) granting public authority the right to use information exclusively to natural or legal persons. The public authority is obliged to submit such decisions and contracts to the Information Commission within 15 days from the date of the enactment or conclusion.
- Ordinance on the types and contents of licenses determining the conditions for reuse of information (OG 67/17)
The Ordinance prescribes the use of a National Open License (OL) for providing information for reuse or for reuse of open data. Exceptionally, public authorities may be allowed to create their own license or to use international standard licenses. Open licenses can be downloaded at http://data.gov.hr/otvorena-dozvola.
- Decree on the costs of re-use of information (OG 87/18)
Ovom Uredbom utvrđuju se način i kriteriji za izračun naknade troškova ponovne uporabe informacija, opravdani troškovi koji se uzimaju u obzir pri utvrđivanju cjenika i izračuna naknade troškova te provedba revizije načina izračuna naknade troškova na godišnjoj razini.
Open Data Policy
At its 107th session held on 19 July 2018, the Government of the Republic of Croatia adopted The Open Data Policy, which represents the strategic direction for the further development of the policy of openness and transparency of public administration, through which it intends to create and develop a stimulating environment for opening data of public authorities and their reuse to create new social and economic values.
Open data represent the data generated by public authorities, which use for commercial and / or non-commercial purposes may create added social or economic value (applications, scientific research, etc.). On the one hand, open data contributes to the transparency of the public authorities, strengthens their public accountability and reduces the risk of corruption. On the other hand, the data generated by the public sector represent a valuable resource for the development of innovative services and value-added products, which are incentives for the development of the economy, ie the creation of new jobs and the promotion of investments in data-based sectors. They enable the creation of competitive advantages, the development of innovations and new jobs.
The policy represents the statement of the commitment of the Republic of Croatia’s to open data principles and to implementation of European legislation on the reuse of public sector information, which requires from Member States to ensure maximum openness of data on legal basis, and their quality and accessibility, based on the the principles of non-discrimination and minimum cost.
The Coordination for Implementation of Open Data Policy, formed by the representatives of the Central State Office for the Development of the Digital Society, the Ministry of Public Administration, the Information Commissioner and the Office of the Government of the Republic of Croatia for NGO’s is currently preparing a proposal for the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Open Data Policy for the period 2018-2020, which is to be adopted by the Council for State Information Infrastructure. Adoption of the Action Plan for the Implementation of Open Data Policy is expected by the end of September.