Latvia has improved its position in the OURData index by eight places, beating Lithuania and Estonia and showing 36% progress compared to 2017. The “Government at a Glance 2019” report by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) states that Latvia is approaching the average OECD level.
Latvian Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development Juris Pūce: “The level achieved by Latvia in the OECD Open Data Index shows that Latvia's State Administration is becoming more open to society and citizens. It is necessary to ensure increased access for citizens to data at national level which are not specifically protected, so that their use contributes both to the creation of new and innovative products and services and to the competitiveness of entrepreneurs in the international environment. "
The OECD Open Data Index evaluates the availability, accessibility and state aid for data re-use. The availability of government data is at the heart of the open data policy. Greater accessibility is linked to closer national cooperation with stakeholders on data dissemination and high-value datasets U. The re-use of national data depends on the format of the data and the procedure allowing the data to be used by everyone. . The availability of open data means that the information is free, freely available without re-use restrictions and can be edited and processed with available applications.
One of the most important criteria for improving Latvia's positions is the creation of the Latvian Open Data Portal, as well as the country's close cooperation with information and communication technology entrepreneurs in the implementation of the activities of the Data driven nation. . It promoted both the democratisation of data held by public administration and the promotion of entrepreneurship by creating innovative products and services using new data.
In the study of the European re-use index, Latvia has shown progress for the third consecutive year from the last 26 th place in 2016 to 10 th place in 2019. The European re-use index study examines both the availability and quality of data and the functionality of national portals of the Member States of the European Union. . The index does not assess the impact on socio-economic outcomes of the data available to the public administration, but rather the work carried out by public administrations to ensure sufficient conditions and stimulate their re-use.
The Latvian Open Data Portal has been running since June 2017. National regulatory authorities may publish the data at their disposal which can be used by citizens and economic operators on their own account. m. In August 2019, the government approved the Latvian Open Data Strategy, which provides for the publication and availability of new and high-quality national data for all stakeholders.
Other information:
Public Relations Department
Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development
Tel. 20200305; 67026533
prese@varam.gov.lv
www.varam.gov.lv