Directive Obligations

Public sector bodies have to:

  • Make information re-usable for commercial or non-commercial purposes under nondiscriminatory conditions.
  • Process requests and provide access within 20 days (or 40 if request is complex); justify negative decision and inform about how to appeal.
  • Charge no more than cost of reproduction, provision and dissemination; publicise charges and indicate calculation basis on request.
  • Publish licences in digital format.
  • Facilitate search for information preferably online (e.g. portal).

Public sector bodies may not:

  • Unnecessarily restrict reuse.
  • Grant exclusive rights, unless necessary, subject to review every 3 years.

Public sector bodies do not have to:

  • Make information available that is excluded by virtue of access regimes in the Member States
  • Adapt formats or provide translations.