Parliament opens access to geospatial data for Ukrainians

The Verkhovna Rada adopted the Law of Ukraine "On National Geospatial Data Infrastructure" (bill No. 2370) which established free access to relevant information for citizens and economic entities.

The decision was supported by 302 MPs, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

The law establishes the legal foundations for the creation, operation and development of national geospatial data infrastructure, defining principles for its creation and development.

According to the law, a modern system of meeting the requirements of society in all types of geographic information will be formed, cross-sectoral integration of geospatial data and land register data will be provided, and basic and thematic geospatial data and metadata created by both public sector and monopoly enterprises will become available on the Internet.

It is proposed to finance the creation, operation and development of national geospatial data infrastructure at the expense of state and local budgets, funds of institutions, organizations and enterprises, contracting authorities in accordance with concluded contracts and other sources not prohibited by law. To create a national geospatial data infrastructure, existing geospatial data already created by public authorities will be used.

This law also amends the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses to introduce liability for violations of the legislation on national geospatial data infrastructure.

Most provisions of this law enter into force on January 1, 2021.

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