Accessibility of Public Information (LT0012)

To develop an Open Data supply model. a. An Open Data supply model has been developed: b. Guidelines for public administration authorities have been developed defining the Open Data concept, terms and conditions and methods for data opening; c. Alternative ways for opening data have been presented. To encourage data supply in open formats. a. Recommendations have been developed for public institutions and agencies as regards the preparation of investment projects aimed at creation or modification of information systems; provisions have been made for the adjustment of information systems to provide data in open formats (.csm. xml, and others). b. adjustment of information systems to provide data in open formats has been listed among investment priorities for 2015

Commitment 6. Accessibility of Public Information

Commitment Text:

Initiative 3: Openness to the public of the activities of public administration authorities (Open Data)

Area: to make information held by public authorities accessible to the public

Actions:

1. To develop an Open Data supply model.
1. An Open Data supply model has been developed:
2. Guidelines for public administration authorities have been developed defining the Open Data concept, terms and conditions and methods for data opening;
3. Alternative ways for opening data have been presented.

2. To encourage data supply in open formats.

a.     Recommendations have been developed for public institutions and agencies as regards the preparation of investment projects aimed at creation or modification of information systems; provisions have been made for the adjustment of information systems to provide data in open formats (.csm. xml, and others).

b.     adjustment of information systems to provide data in open formats has been listed among investment priorities for 2015

[Emphasis added]

Responsible institution: Ministry of Transport and Communications

Supporting institutions: Not specified

Start date: Not specified........   End date: 2014

Commitment aim:

This commitment aims to provide public information in an open data format by developing an open data supply mechanism and developing recommendations for public institutions in the field of public data management and release.

Currently, there is no functional open data portal in Lithuania. According to an interviewed anti-corruption NGO representative,^{[Note 26: Interview with Ruta Mrazauskaite, 15 September 2015.]} key stakeholders have been discussing the need for open data since 2010. However, the government has taken limited actions to develop and implement an open data supply model, and few public institutions in Lithuania release some open data.

Status

Midterm: Limited

The milestone regarding the development of an open data supply model was substantially completed. The Information Society Development Committee (ISDC) under the Ministry of Transport and Communications reported a number of outputs and commissioned a feasibility study in the beginning of 2015 that presented two open data supply model alternatives.^{[Note 27: The Open Data Feasibility study can be found here: http://ivpk.lrv.lt/uploads/ivpk/documents/files/IVPK_leidiniai/Galimybi%C5%B3%20tyrimo%20ataskaita_atviri%20duomenys%202015.pdf.]} However, there were a few missing milestones: specifically, open data guidelines for other institutions were not prepared at the time of developing the midterm report.

The milestone regarding data supply in open formats showed limited progress. While the Ministry of Communications and Transport did not start the commitment according to its strict wording, it did complete steps which have the same or even greater impact in the open data arena. The ministry included an open data provision in the selection of investment projects in the area of information systems development or modification. This provision encourages institutions to ensure that newly developed or updated information systems have the functionality required to gather and release data in open formats. Refer to the midterm report for a detailed overview.

End of term: Complete

In July 2016, the minister of transport and communication issued an order concerning recommendations on data opening in the public sector (No. 3-245 (1.5E)).^{[Note 28: The recommendations can be accessed here: https://www.e-tar.lt/portal/lt/legalAct/3a0d20c04e8311e6b72ff16034f7f796.]} The order provides  good practice recommendation for all national and municipal institutions, including state-owned enterprises. They include definitions of open data, objectives behind opening data, and methods to identify data release priorities. These outputs in effect complete the commitment in full.

Did it open government?

Access to information: Marginal

The commitment is a positive step towards improved open data release practices in the future and has resulted in marginal changes in access to information. An interview with an Information Society Development Committee representative revealed that there were instances when the Ministry of Communications and Transport applied the criteria of open data to new ICT investment projects, indicating that the newly introduced criteria took effect and were used in determining financial investments. Further improvements are expected as the commitment does not specifically outline the provision of open data but instead creates preconditions for the further provision of open data.  

Carried forward?

The commitment related to open data was included in the third national action plan with an aim to build an open data portal and integrate it into the European single digital market. As worded in the action plan, the government plans to create centrally managed technical tools enabling people and business to have, without preconditions, convenient access to public-sector data for business development and nongovernmental initiatives. The commitment involves the creation of centralised access to open data, including metadata and datasets, in the public sector.