The document discusses open data and transparency regarding lists of beneficiaries of EU Cohesion Policy funds in Europe. It provides background on relevant EU rules and initiatives promoting open data and transparency, including the Re-use of Public Sector Information Directive. It then presents results of a study evaluating the transparency of lists of beneficiaries of EU regional policy funds across EU member states and regions. The study found variability across countries/regions in terms of the level of information disclosed and formats used to present the data.

1. www.opencoesione.gov.it
www.dps.tesoro.it/opencoesione
Open Data and the transparency
of the lists of beneficiaries of EU
Cohesion Policy in Europe!
Luigi Reggi!
Department for Cohesion and Economic Development!
!
!
Croatia Study Visit!
March 7, 2013!
!

2. Recovery.gov

3. Farmsubsidy.org

6. Open Data & Transparency
EU rules and initiatives
The Digital Agenda
for Europe
.
“Turning government data into
gold”
E-government action plan 2011-2015
• Improvement of Transparency
• Access to information on government laws
and regulations, policies and finance
• Re-use of Public Sector Information

7. Open Data & Transparency
EU rules and initiatives
Re-use of Public Sector Information Directive (2003)
A common legislative framework regulating how public sector bodies
should make their information available for re-use in order to remove
barriers such as discriminatory practices, monopoly markets and a
lack of transparency.
In December 2011, the Commission presented an Open Data
Package:
1. A Communication on Open Data
2. A proposal for a revision of the Directive, which aims at opening
up the market for services based on public-sector information, by
• including new bodies in the scope of application of the
Directive such as libraries (including university libraries),
museums and archives;
• limiting the fees that can be charged by the public authorities
at the marginal costs as a rule;
• introducing independent oversight over re-use rules in the
Member States;
• making machine-readable formats for information held by
public authorities the norm.
3. New Commission rules on re-use of the documents it holds

8. Open Data & Transparency
EU rules and initiatives
Structural Funds Regulation 2007-13
Art. 7 Reg. 1828 8 dic 2006
“the managing authority shall be responsible for
organising the publication, electronically or otherwise, of
1. the list of beneficiaries,
2. the names of the operations and
3. the amount of public funding allocated to the
operations”

9. Open Data & Transparency
EU rules and initiatives
European Transparency Initiative (2008) - Indicative
table for setting the list of beneficiaries of EU Funding

10. A measure for Open Data quality
Relevant literature on open data policy!
Government
should consider
Government Open
data
and
different users
should only Public
Value
&
needs (public
the
“invisible
publish data in Data
divide
value) and
hand”
open, machine- provide also
readable easy-to-access
formats data in
processed form
Brito, 2007 Dawes and Helbig, 2010 (data divide)
Robinson et al., 2009 Gurstein, 2011
Harrison et al, 2011

11. A measure for Open Data quality
Relevant literature on open data policy!
Stewardship principle includes the actions and policies addressed to data
“care” and aiming to ensure information quality and detail, reduce the risk of
misuse, and consequently increase users’ confidence in government information.
Usefulness includes the creation of added value for citizens and enterprises and
innovation promotion, thus understanding the actions aimed at making data more
accessible to end-users.
Source: Dawes, S: Stewardship and usefulness: Policy principles for information-based transparency.
Government Information Quarterly 27, p. 381 (2010).

12. An evaluation on the
transparency the lists of
beneficiaries of EU Regional
Policy
The goals
• To compare the performances of EU MS & Regions
• To explore the information-based strategies that
European public agencies are pursuing when
publishing their data on the web

13. EU Regional Policy
The background!
Common EU policy Multilevel governance
all EU 27 Countries are involved
full comparability: same rules Regional and/or National
agencies are Managing
and regulations
Authorities of Operational
Programmes
Minimum set of information
required by the Regulation
(Reg. No. 1828/2006 of 8 December 2006, art. 7)
⇒ They are free to decide the
level of information
disclosed in terms of detail,
quality, access and
visualization.

14. Data collection
Methodology!
• Web-based survey on availability and quality of the lists
of beneficiaries of EU Regional Policy
• All EU Countries and Regions included
• 434 Operational Programmes reviewed
[European Commission - DG Regional Policy database]
• Starting point: EC DG Regional Policy and DG
Employment dedicated portals
• Three waves: Oct 2010, Oct 2011, Oct 2012

15. Data collection
Starting points of the web-based analysis!

16. Category) Characteristics) ETI) Italy) EU27)
Stewardship Content) Final&Beneficiary&& Yes)
Av.)%) Av.)%)
100) 97)
variables )
)
Project&
Axis&&
Yes))
)
100)
65)
97)
45)
) Specific/Operat.&Objectives&& ) 52) 25)
) Intervention&Line&& ) 25) 15)
) Project&description& ) 12) 18)
) Award&and&payment&dates&& Yes) 75) 70)
) Project&start/end&dates& ) 2) 17)
) Status&(active/completed)& ) 6) 19)
Financial)Data) Financial&value&allocated&& ) ) )
to&the&project& Yes) 100) 97)
) Payments& Yes) 65) 43)
) EU&coFfinancing&& ) 17) 37)
) National&coFfinancing&(or&other)&& ) 10) 12)
Downloadable) PDF& ) 87) 64)
file)format)) DOC& ) 0) 1)
) HTML&(single&page)& ) 6) 6)
) HTML&(multiple&pages)& ) 12) 23)
) XLS& ) 8) 31)
) CSV& ) 2) 1)
) XML,&JSON& ) 0) 0)
) RDF,&linked&data& ) 0) 0)
Information) Last&update&date& Yes) 88) 91)
Quality)) Update&frequency& ) 8) 19)
) Data&description& ) 12) 16)
) Fields&description&in&another&language&& ) 4) 13)
October 2011 ) Number&of&clicks&from&home&page&<&3& ) 25) 65)
&

17. Usefulness
variables
Category) Characteristics) ETI) Italy) EU27)
Av.)%) Av.)%)
DB)consultation)) Search'by'Fund'type'' ) 6) 29)
through)masks)) Search'by'Project' ) 10) 27)
) Search'by'OP' ) 2) 31)
) Search'by'Axis/Object./Action' ) 6) 17)
) Search'by'Beneficiary' ) 10) 13)
) Search'by'Resources' ) 2) 8)
) Search'by'Territory/Area' ) 10) 19)
) Search'by'Project'status'' ) 0) 7)
Advanced) Georeferencing''through'maps' ) 0) 16)
Functions)
) Visualisation'through'graphs'and' ) 2) 17)
other'elaborations''
) Data'with'subEregional'detail' ) 29) 18)
'
October 2011

18. Content (1/2)

19. Content (2/2)
)$$%& )$$%&
-$%& -$%&
+$%& +$%&
'$%& '$%&
,$%& !"#$%& ,$%&
"'#'%& "-#)%&
!$%& "(#)%& !$%&
*+#*%& *+#-%&
"$%& "$%&
*$%& *$%&
($%& ($%&
)$%& )$%&
$%& $%&
./01&234564&
ERDF- ./01&78964&/:&
ERDF-EU .0/&234564&
ESF .0/&78964&/:&
ESF-EU Average Centralised Non-centralised
;8<3=456>>43?& @?<&A8<3=456>>43?&
Italy Average Italy
)$$%&
+$%&
,$%& /:&MP8=4Q8R&($))&
"$%&
($%&
$%&
B:& .2& CD& EF& //& GC& HI& @C& 2D& E/& ;J& 0I& .1& 1K& 0/& 02& C:& GD& H/& ;L& F1& 2/& 7D& MD& :I& /0& CN&
O&($)$& )$$ '+%&'+%&")%&,'%&,'%&!,%&!)%&"!%&"*%&""%&""%&"*%&""%&""%&**%&*-%&(-%&*!%&**%&**%&**%&**%&*(%&"*%&(+%& $%&
%&
O&($))& )$$ '+%&'+%&,'%&,'%&,'%&!,%&!*%&"-%&"'%&""%&""%&""%&""%&""%&""%&*-%&*'%&*"%&**%&**%&**%&**%&*(%&(-%&(+%& $%&
%&

20. Financial data (1/2)

21. Financial data (2/2)
;::<# ;::<#
A:<# A:<#
C:<# C:<#
>:<# >:<#
=BJ@<#
B:<# ?AJB<# B:<# =:J9<#
=:<# ?9J@<# =:<# ?@J@<#
@CJ=<#
?:<# ?:<#
@:<# @:<#
9:<# 9:<#
;:<# ;:<#
:<# :<#
ERDF-
2/$,#%KGLMG# 2/$,#+ENMG#/4#
ERDF-EU 2$/#%KGLMG#
ESF- Italy 2$/#+ENMG#/4#
ESF-EU Centralised Non-centralised
'EOKFGLMPPGKQ# .QO#REOKFGLMPPGKQ#
Italy Average Average
;::<#
C:<#
B:<# /4#6DEFGHEI9:;;#
?:<#
9:<#
:<#
!"# $%# $&# '(# )*# +*# ,-# .)# !/# '0# 1&# 2%# 34# 2,# %*# 5*# 1/# /$# )4# 4&# 6*# //# ",# %/# 5)# $/# )7#
8#9:;:# 9;<#=:<# ;:: >=<#>=<#>=<#>=<#?=<#=@<#=:<#=:<#=:<#=:<#?A<#?9<#@A<#?B<#@><#@C<#?C<#9=<#9=<#9=<#9=<#9=<#9=<# :<#
<#
8#9:;;# ;:: ;:: ;:: >=<#>=<#>=<#>=<#B:<#=@<#=:<#=:<#=:<#=:<#?A<#?C<#?B<#?B<#@C<#@C<#@C<#9=<#9=<#9=<#9=<#9=<#9=<# :<#
<# <# <#

22. Information quality (1/2)

23. Information quality (2/2)
;::># ;::>#
J:># J:>#
<:># <:>#
@:># @:>#
?:># ?:>#
A:># A:># B:I:>#
=?IA>#
B:># 9JI;># B:>#
9=I9># 9?I=>#
=:># 99I9># =:>#
9:># 9:>#
;:># ;:>#
:># :>#
ERDF-
'+,/#(KFLMF# '+,/#6DNMF#+%#
ERDF- EU ESF-Italy
',+#(KFLMF# ',+#6DNMF#+%#
ESF-EU Centralised Non-centralised
!DOKEFLMPPFKQ# 2QO#RDOKEFLMPPFKQ#
Italy Average Average
;::>#
<:>#
?:>#
+%#-CDEFGDH#9:;;#
B:>#
9:>#
:>#
!"# $%# !&# '(# )*# +,# -.# ).# '/# (+# /0# ,+# 1+# 2*# ,(# (.# %3# 4+# ,3# 5/# *.# 6.# 45# 13# *%# ++# *7#
8#9:;:# <=>#?@>#A:>#A:>#;@>#=B>#=<>#9A>#;@>#9<>#==>#;@>#=?>#9:>#;@>#;<>#9;># 9># ;@>#;@>#;@># :># ;B>#;@># <># :># :>#
8#9:;;# <=>#?@>#A:>#A:>#A:>#B9>#=<>#=A>#==>#==>#==>#=;>#=;>#=:>#9<>#9=>#99>#;<>#;@>#;@>#;@>#;@>#;@>#;@># <># :># :>#

24. Format (1/4)
A score is assigned that is directly proportional to the degree of
openness and re-usability of the information provided.
It takes into account whether the formats used are machine-
readable, open or, at best, consistent with the linked data model.
Format' Score'
(%)'
PDF$ 16.7$
DOC$ 16.7$
HTML$(multiple$pages)$ 16.7$
HTML$(single$page)$ 33.3$
XLS$ 50.0$
CSV$ 66.7$
XML,$JSON$ 83.3$
Linked$data$model$supporting$format$(e.g.$RDF)$ 100.0$
$

25. Format (2/4)

26. Format (3/4)
100% (!!"#
90% A!"#
80% '!"#
70% @!"#
60% &!"#
50% B!"#
40% %!"# C%JB"#
30,2%
30% 23,2% 23,1% C!"#
18,8% (AJC"#
20% $!"#
10% (!"#
0% !"#
ERDF- ESF- Centralised Non-centralised
,EKLFGMNOOGLP# 9PK#QEKLFGMNOOGLP#
italy Italia
FESR FESR Media EU
ERDF-EU FSE Italia FSE Media EU
ESF-EU Average
Italy Average Italy
(!!"#
'!"#
&!"#
%!"# )6#8DEFGHEI#$!((#
$!"#
!"#
))# *+# ,-# ./# 01# 20# 34# .5# 3)# 06# 21# /)# *)# /1# 64# 7)# )3# 81# 74# 90# ,:# +5# ;1# 5<# =6# 0># 3/#
?#$!(!# (@"#$A"#B!"#B!"#B!"#B!"#B!"#%A"#CC"#$B"#$!"#$$"#%!"#$!"#$("#(A"#(@"#(@"#(@"#(@"#(@"#(@"#(@"#(@"#(@"# !"# !"#
?#$!((# &@"#B!"#B!"#B!"#B!"#B!"#B!"#%A"#CC"#$B"#$%"#$$"#$$"#$("#('"#('"#(@"#(@"#(@"#(@"#(@"#(@"#(@"#(@"#(@"# !"# !"#

27. Format (4/4)
October 2012

28. Search functions (1/2)

29. Search functions (2/2)
;::<# ;::<#
B:<# B:<#
=:<# =:<#
@:<# @:<#
>:<# >:<#
A:<# A:<#
C:<# C:<#
9@JB<#
?:<# 9;J=<# ?:<#
9:<# ;?J:<# 9:<#
@J;<# @J9<#
;:<# ?J><# ;:<#
:<# :<#
ERDF-
+*-.#,KGLMG# ERDF- EU
+*-.#6ENMG#*"# ESF-Italy
+-*#,KGLMG# ESF-EU
+-*#6ENMG#*"# Centralised Non-centralised
2EOKFGLMPPGKQ# 0QO#REOKFGLMPPGKQ#
Italy Average Average
;::<#
=:<#
>:<#
C:<#
*"#1DEFGHEI9:;;#
9:<#
:<#
!"# $%# &'# ()# **# +,# -*# -,# +.# /$# ")# 0$# &*# /%# ,%# (*# 1%# 23# 24# *-# '.# ,*# $"# $5# 6%# .7# -)#
8#9:;:# ;:: ==<# :<# >?<#@A<#A:<#A:<#;?<#?=<# :<# =<# ;=<# =<# :<# ><# :<# :<# :<# :<# :<# :<# :<# :<# :<# :<# :<# :<#
<#
8#9:;;# ;:: ==<#@A<#>?<#A:<#A:<#A:<#A:<#?B<#?=<#9:<#;=<#;;<#;:<# ><# ;<# :<# :<# :<# :<# :<# :<# :<# :<# :<# :<# :<#
<#

30. Advanced functions (1/2)

31. Advanced functions (2/2)
;::<# ;::<#
J:<# J:<#
A:<# A:<#
>:<# >:<#
=:<# =:<#
@:<# @:<#
B:<# B:<#
?:<# ?:<# 9?I=<#
;JI=<#
9:<# ;;IJ<# ;;I;<# 9:<#
AI?<# AI;<#
;:<# ;:<#
:<# :<#
ERDF-
)(-*#.KFLMF# ERDF- EU
)(-*#6DNMF#("# ESF-Italy
)-(#.KFLMF# ESF-EU
)-(#6DNMF#("# Centralised Non-centralised
2DOKEFLMPPFKQ# /QO#RDOKEFLMPPFKQ#
Italy Average Average
;::<#
A:<#
=:<#
B:<#
("#1CDEFGDH#9:;;#
9:<#
:<#
!"# $%# &'# ((# )*# +,# -.# /+# 0,# .,# $(# 1,# "'# &(# 23# 24# (-# ).# %*# .(# +"# +5# 6,# 0+# *7# -(# -'#
8#9:;:# ;:: ;:<#=><#??<#=@<#??<#??<#9><#;><# A<# ><# =<# @<# :<# :<# :<# :<# :<# :<# :<# :<# :<# :<# :<# :<# :<# :<#
<#
8#9:;;# ;:: =><#=><#=><#==<#??<#??<#9><#;><#;:<# ><# =<# =<# 9<# :<# :<# :<# :<# :<# :<# :<# :<# :<# :<# :<# :<# :<#
<#

32. Three
different
publication
strategies
Factor analysis!

33. Three different publication strategies
Dimension 2
-3.0
Group 3 61% Group 1 18%
Reuse-centred
Regulation-centred
Update and description
-1.5
Ease of search
Financial Resources
XLS / CSV
Content
0
Group 2
Research masks
PDF User-centred
Georeferencing
HTML
1.5
21%
3.0
-1.5 0 1.5 3.0 4.5
Dimension 1

34. Three different publication strategies
100%
80%
57%
60% 73%
Group 3- Regulation-centred
40% Group 2-User-centred
24% Group 1 - Reuse-centred
20% 14%
19% 14%
0%
ERDF ESF
100%
80%
52%
67% 61%
60%
Group 3- Regulation-centred
40% 20%
Group 2-User-centred
20% 21% 27%
28% Group 1 - Reuse-centred
11% 8%
0%
CONV RCE Cooperation

35. Three different publication strategies
100%
12%
80% 89%
41%
60% Group 3- Regulation-centred
40% 60% Group 2-User-centred
44% Group 1 - Reuse-centred
20%
57%
0%
Decentralised Centralised
100%
22%
80%
74% 23%
60% Group 3- Regulation-centred
40% Group 2-User-centred
54% Group 1 - Reuse-centred
20% 19%
0% 7%
EU15 NEW MSs

36. Towards the new Regulation
EU rules and initiatives
Art. 105 General Regulation (EC proposal)
Machine-readable format: CSV, XML
single national website or portal
Mandatory data fields include
• Beneficiary name (only legal entities; no natural persons shall be named);
• Operation name; Operation summary;
• Operation start date & Operation end date (expected date for physical
completion or full implementation of the operation);
• Total eligible expenditure allocated to the operation;
• EU co-financing rate (as per priority axis);
• Operation postcode;
• Name of category of intervention for the operation;
• Date of last update of the list of operations.
• The headings of the data fields and the names of the operations shall be also
provided in at least one other official language of the European Union.

37. Towards the
new Regulation
EU27 2007-2013 OPs
average level of
compliance with the
requirements set by the
Regulation for
2014-2020 !

38. The path to a balanced approach
Re-­‐user
centered
Data quality Open,
approach hi-quality,
FOCUSED ON useful and
Stewardship
raw data, accessible
advanced user,
mash-up apps data
Data
visualization
Closed data approach
FOCUSED ON User
processed data, non centered
technically-oriented
Regula<on
citizens
centered
Usefulness

39. Some examples….
Re-­‐user
centered
IT
BG
EE
Stewardship
PL FR
ES
HU NL
DE
GR
DK User
UK centered
Regula<on
centered
Usefulness

40. Open questions
• How will these three different strategies evolve over time?
• How do information management issues influence openness
and transparency (e.g. centralization / decentralization)?
• What are the determinants of openness and transparency?
For example:
• Regional context (size, innovation, ICT diffusion, etc.)
• Transparency and Democracy indicators
• Economic variables (amount of funding, FEIs vs. grants..)
• How to compare the performance of EU27 Regions and
Member States? Composite indicator