Skip Navigation
Norway

Re-use of public sector information (PSI) (NO0040)

Overview

At-a-Glance

Action Plan: Norway Action Plan 2013-2015

Action Plan Cycle: 2013

Status: Inactive

Institutions

Lead Institution: The Ministry of Government Administration, Reform and Church Affairs

Support Institution(s): NA

Policy Areas

Capacity Building, E-Government, Open Data

IRM Review

IRM Report: Norway End-of-Term Report 2014-2015

Starred: No

Early Results: Did Not Change Did Not Change

Design i

Verifiable: No

Relevant to OGP Values: Access to Information Technology

Potential Impact:

Implementation i

Completion:

Description

The Norwegian public administration is working hard to release the potential of PSI. All
subordinate agencies are required by common instructions provided by the
government to make suitable and existing accessible data publicly available.

1. All state enterprises are required to make public data available so that it can be
used by others, i.e. published electronically in a user-friendly format.
2. The government has recently published a call for tender for a case-based, socio-economic analysis of the availability of public geospatial data in Norway. The aim
of the analysis is to identify alternative ways of facilitating the publication of
spatial data in comparison with the current situation. The analysis should
determine which option provides the best overall economic solution. The study
should be ready by Q2 2014.

IRM End of Term Status Summary

5. Re-use of public sector information (PSI)

Commitment Text:

[…]

COMMITMENT DESCRIPTION
1. All state enterprises are required to make public data available so that it can be used by others, i.e. published electronically in a user-friendly format.

2. The government has recently published a call for tender for a case-based, socio-economic analysis of the availability of public geospatial data in Norway. The aim of the analysis is to identify alternative ways of facilitating the publication of spatial data in comparison with the current situation. The analysis should determine which option provides the best overall economic solution. The study should be ready by Q2 2014.

Responsible institution: Ministry of Government Administration, Reform and Church Affairs

Supporting institution(s): None

Start date: Ongoing           End date:  Ongoing (July 2014 for public release of analysis)

Editorial note: The text of the commitments was abridged for formatting reasons. For the full text of the commitment, please see http://bit.ly/1QlVIja.

Policy Aim

According to the Norwegian government’s self-assessment of action plan implementation, the first component of this commitment is to increase access to public information from several social sectors, thereby increasing effective public administration, facilitating innovation, and improving public accountability. According to the same self-assessment, the second component, which entails contracting a scoping study on alternative mechanisms to publish geo-spatial data, is aimed at understanding the socio-economic benefits that might be achieved by publishing that data free of charge. This objective is founded on the presumption that geodata is widely re-used by third-party application developers and service providers. The results of the study would presumably provide the Ministry of Local Government and Modernisation (KMD) with justification for pursuing the publication of geodata free of charge.

Status

Mid-term: Substantial
Regarding the first milestone, the government held a hearing on the implementation of the European Commission Directive on the Re-use of Public Sector Data and was reviewing submissions to that consultation. It had also initiated an evaluation process of the Norwegian Public Data Licensing System. In fulfillment of the second milestone, the analysis of the availability of public geospatial data in Norway was received and was under consideration.

End-of-term: Substantial
The commitment’s first milestone (“All state enterprises are required to make public data available”) is difficult to evaluate given that “state enterprises,” “data,” and “make public” are not defined. Moreover, despite the fact that there has been a significant increase in the publication of public sector data on open licenses in recent years (the national open data portal hosts data sets from 82 public agencies[Note 31: ”Data.norge.no,” Agency for Public Management and eGovernment, accessed September 13, 2016, http://data.norge.no/organisasjoner. ]), there is no regulatory mechanism compelling all public actors to make all data available, as implied by this commitment. The commitment’s second component (to contract a scoping study) has been completed. A report suggesting the economic advantages of the free release of map data is available on the government’s website.[Note 32: ”Gratis kartdata lønner seg,” Ministry of Local Government and Modernisation, accessed September 4, 2016, https://www.regjeringen.no/no/aktuelt/Gratis-kartdata-lonner-seg/id754369/.]

Did it open government?

Access to information: Did not change

The activities undertaken under the two components have not improved the quality or quantity of information disclosed by the government. The IRM researcher was unable to identify significant changes to Norway’s regulatory framework for data production by public entities. Any legal instrument compelling agencies to publically release data would be introduced through upcoming amendments to the Freedom of Information Act (see commitment 15). It is noteworthy that institutional culture remains largely opposed to such a mechanism, and the focal point for this commitment described a parliamentary debate in which many ministry representatives expressed concern that such a mechanism will introduce undue burdens on public agencies. In June 2016, the Norwegian Civil Ombudsman criticized a Norwegian municipal government for refusing to release public sector data in spreadsheet form, on the grounds that it could be manipulated.[Note 33: ”Fylkesmannens saksbehandlingstid ved behandling av klage i innsynssak,” Sivilombudsmannen (July 1, 2016), accessed September 12, 2016, https://www.sivilombudsmannen.no/uttalelser/fylkesmannens-saksbehandlingstid-ved-behandling-av-klage-i-innsynssak-article4429-114.html. ] Such instances suggest that, in the absence of a law compelling agencies to release information, institutional culture in many public agencies is a significant obstacle to the achievement of this commitment’s first component. Regarding the second component, the IRM researcher did not identify any changes to Norwegian policy on the publication of geospatial data, as was suggested might follow from the contracting of the geodata study.

Carried forward?

This commitment has not been carried forward in the Norwegian government’s third national action plan, which is available on the OGP website.[Note 34: ”Norway’s third action plan Open Government Partnership (OGP),” Ministry of Local Government and Modernisation, accessed September 4, 2016, http://www.opengovpartnership.org/sites/default/files/Norway_2016-17_NAP.pdf.]

Norway's Commitments

  1. Archiving documents

    NO0054, 2019, Capacity Building

  2. Making energy statistics available

    NO0055, 2019, E-Government

  3. E-access and expansion

    NO0056, 2019, Civic Space

  4. open cultural data

    NO0057, 2019, E-Government

  5. Digital spatial Planning

    NO0058, 2019, E-Government

  6. streamline public procurement

    NO0059, 2019, E-Government

  7. Preventing corruption

    NO0060, 2019, Anti-Corruption Institutions

  8. beneficial ownership registry

    NO0061, 2019, Beneficial Ownership

  9. User orientation

    NO0045, 2016, Capacity Building

  10. Electronic Public Records (OEP)

    NO0046, 2016, E-Government

  11. Transparency regarding environmental information

    NO0047, 2016, E-Government

  12. Starred commitment Disclosure of financial data

    NO0048, 2016, E-Government

  13. Transparency regarding rainforest funds

    NO0049, 2016, E-Government

  14. State employees’ ownership of shares

    NO0050, 2016, Anti-Corruption Institutions

  15. Promote freedom of expression and independent media

    NO0051, 2016, Civic Space

  16. Country-by-country reporting

    NO0052, 2016, Extractive Industries

  17. Register for ultimate beneficial ownership

    NO0053, 2016, Anti-Corruption Institutions

  18. Public review and public consultation

    NO0020, 2013, Capacity Building

  19. Registering and preserving digital documentation produced by public bodies

    NO0021, 2013, E-Government

  20. The Norwegian Citizen Survey (Innbyggerundersøkelsen)

    NO0022, 2013, Public Participation

  21. Whistleblowing

    NO0023, 2013, Whistleblower Protections

  22. Strengthened information exchange for more efficient crime prevention and combating

    NO0024, 2013, Justice

  23. Strengthening the transparency of public authorities and administration

    NO0025, 2013, Capacity Building

  24. eGovernment with an end-user focus

    NO0026, 2013, E-Government

  25. Plain Legal Language

    NO0027, 2013, Capacity Building

  26. Norwegian Grants Portal (MFA)

    NO0028, 2013, Aid

  27. An international convention or agreement on financial transparency

    NO0029, 2013, Private Sector

  28. Reducing conflicts of interests – Post-Employment Regulations

    NO0030, 2013, Conflicts of Interest

  29. Centre for Integrity in the Defence Sector

    NO0031, 2013, Security

  30. A better overview of committees, boards and councils – more public access to information and better opportunities for further use

    NO0032, 2013, E-Government

  31. Modernizing Public Governance

    NO0033, 2013, Capacity Building

  32. Transparency in the management of oil and gas revenues

    NO0034, 2013, Extractive Industries

  33. Transparency in the management of the Government Pension Fund (GPF)

    NO0035, 2013, E-Government

  34. Transparency and anti-corruption efforts

    NO0036, 2013, Anti-Corruption Institutions

  35. The municipal sector

    NO0037, 2013, Education

  36. “Simplify” (“Enkelt og greit”)

    NO0038, 2013, E-Government

  37. Electronic Public Records (OEP) – (Offentlig elektronisk postjournal)

    NO0039, 2013, E-Government

  38. Re-use of public sector information (PSI)

    NO0040, 2013, Capacity Building

  39. Access to health data

    NO0041, 2013, E-Government

  40. Renewal of the Government’s website (regjeringen.no – government.no)

    NO0042, 2013, E-Government

  41. Declaration of principles for interaction and dialogue with NGOs

    NO0043, 2013, Capacity Building

  42. Simplification and digital administration of arrangements for NGOs

    NO0044, 2013, Capacity Building

  43. An Open Public Sector and Inclusive Government

    NO0001, 2011, Capacity Building

  44. Measures to promote gender equality and women’s full participation in civic life, the private sector, the public administration and political processes.

    NO0002, 2011, Gender

  45. Gender Equality – Participation in the Private Sector

    NO0003, 2011, Gender

  46. Increase Women's Representation in Local Government

    NO0004, 2011, Gender

  47. Gender Equality Program

    NO0005, 2011, Gender

  48. Gender Equality – Inclusion of Immigrant Women

    NO0006, 2011, Gender

  49. Gender Equality – Combat Gender Stereotypes

    NO0007, 2011, Gender

  50. Gender Equality – Youth Initiatives

    NO0008, 2011, Gender

  51. Gender Equality – Combat Domestic Violence

    NO0009, 2011, Gender

  52. Transparency in the management of oil and gas revenues / financial transparency

    NO0010, 2011, Aid

  53. Transparency in the Management of Oil and Gas Revenues / Financial Transparency – Government Global Pension Fund

    NO0011, 2011, Fiscal Transparency

  54. Transparency in the Management of Oil and Gas Revenues / Financial Transparency – Combat Tax Evasion

    NO0012, 2011, Fiscal Transparency

  55. Transparency in the Management of Oil and Gas Revenues / Financial Transparency – Multi-National Companies

    NO0013, 2011, Fiscal Transparency

  56. An Open Public Sector and Inclusive Government – Create Central Communication Policy

    NO0014, 2011, Fiscal Transparency

  57. An Open Public Sector and Inclusive Government

    NO0015, 2011, E-Government

  58. An Open Public Sector and Inclusive Government – Public Data Use

    NO0016, 2011, Public Participation

  59. An Open Public Sector and Inclusive Government – National Statistic Publication

    NO0017, 2011, Open Data

  60. An Open Public Sector and Inclusive Government – National Public Opinion Survey

    NO0018, 2011, Records Management

  61. An Open Public Sector and Inclusive Government

    NO0019, 2011, Public Participation