Directive on the re-use of public sector information


Directive 2003/98/EC on the re-use of public sector information, known as the PSI Directive, now called Open Data Directive, is an EU directive that encourages EU member states to make as much public sector information available for re-use as possible. Previous to the creation of this directive, this area was left to member states to regulate. This directive provides a common legislative framework for this area.
The Directive is an attempt to remove barriers that hinder the re-use of public sector information throughout the Union.
The ePSIplus web portal was set up as a result of this directive.
In 2013 it was amended to make it more aligned with open government data concepts and also to contemplate cultural heritage information, among other modifications.
The PSI Directive was amended again in 2019, becoming the Open Data Directive, which entered into force on 16 July 2019.
Member states have until 16July 2021 to transpose the new directive into national law.

Definition

Note: this section is based on the earlier PSI Directive from 2003. The scope of the new PSI Directive published in 2019 includes libraries and archives, among several other changes.
"Public sector information" includes " any content whatever its medium " when produced by a public sector body within its mandate. However the directive explicitly excluded a number of cases, including: