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Collection and dissemination of environmental information

1. Union ◄ institutions and bodies shall organise the environmental information which is relevant to their functions and which is held by them, with a view to its active and systematic dissemination to the public, in particular by means of computer telecommunication and/or electronic technology in accordance with Articles 11(1) and (2), and 12 of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001. They shall make this environmental information progressively available in electronic databases that are easily accessible to the public through public telecommunication networks. To that end, they shall place the environmental information that they hold on databases and equip these with search aids and other forms of software designed to assist the public in locating the information they require. The information made available by means of computer telecommunication and/or electronic technology need not include information collected before the entry into force of this Regulation unless it is already available in electronic form. Union ◄ institutions and bodies shall as far as possible indicate where information collected before entry into force of this Regulation which is not available in electronic form is located. Union ◄ institutions and bodies shall make all reasonable efforts to maintain environmental information held by them in forms or formats that are readily reproducible and accessible by computer telecommunications or by other electronic means.

2. The environmental information to be made available and disseminated shall be updated as appropriate. In addition to the documents listed in Article 12(2) and (3) and in Article 13(1) and (2) of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001, the databases or registers shall include the following:

(a) texts of international treaties, conventions or agreements, and of Union ◄ legislation on the environment or relating to it, and of policies, plans and programmes relating to the environment;

(b) progress reports on the implementation of the items referred to under (a) where prepared or held in electronic form by Union ◄ institutions or bodies;

(c) steps taken in proceedings for infringements of Union ◄ law from the stage of the reasoned opinion pursuant to Article 226(1) of TFEU ◄ ;

(d) reports on the state of the environment as referred to in paragraph 4;

(e) data or summaries of data derived from the monitoring of activities affecting, or likely to affect, the environment;

(f) authorisations with a significant impact on the environment, and environmental agreements, or a reference to the place where such information can be requested or accessed;

(g) environmental impact studies and risk assessments concerning environmental elements, or a reference to the place where such information can be requested or accessed.

3. In appropriate cases, Union ◄ institutions and bodies may satisfy the requirements of paragraphs 1 and 2 by creating links to Internet sites where the information can be found.

4. The Commission shall ensure that, at regular intervals not exceeding four years, a report on the state of the environment, including information on the quality of, and pressures on, the environment is published and disseminated.