Reporting Flows The European Environment Agency (EEA), through the Eionet network (Environmental Information and Observation Network) and its reporting system Reportnet, collects and makes available a series of data and information from member countries on key environmental topics under the Agency's mandate. Each reporting flow complies with specific regulatory obligations, and among these key flows, some are identified as priority flows (Core Data Flows), defined as: "…a subset of existing key data flows reported by EEA member and cooperating countries agreed by the Management Board using the Reportnet tools and which are used by the EEA for its main assessments, products, and services." All data flows and their characteristics can be consulted in the Reporting Obligations Database. The provision of high quality data through Eionet is essential for the European Environment Agency to achieve its goal of providing timely, targeted, relevant and reliable information to policy makers, stakeholders and the general public. Country performance is assessed annually on the basis of priority data flows. During the 2021 review process, a set of 24 Eionet priority data flows (previously 18) was adopted to better reflect the importance of data flows in EEA assessments. As of today, the priority data flows for Italy cover the following topics: Air: Air Quality Directive Water: Bathing Water Directive, Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, Water Framework Directive and WISE flows, Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) Soil: Corine Land Cover Industry and Emissions: PRTR, LCP, EU Registry on Industrial Sites, CLRTAP Convention, Greenhouse Gas Inventory, and national projections Habitats and Biodiversity: Natura 2000 sites, National Inventory of Protected Areas, Birds Directive, and Habitats Directive Noise: Environmental Noise Directive The National Data Flow Coordinator (NDFC) is responsible for monitoring these flows. All data collected by the European Environment Agency through the Eionet network can be accessed on the following platforms. https://www.isprambiente.gov.it/en/activities/networks-and-environmental-information-systems/eionet-network/reporting-flows https://www.isprambiente.gov.it/logo.png

Reporting Flows

The European Environment Agency (EEA), through the Eionet network (Environmental Information and Observation Network) and its reporting system Reportnet, collects and makes available a series of data and information from member countries on key environmental topics under the Agency's mandate. Each reporting flow complies with specific regulatory obligations, and among these key flows, some are identified as priority flows (Core Data Flows), defined as: "…a subset of existing key data flows reported by EEA member and cooperating countries agreed by the Management Board using the Reportnet tools and which are used by the EEA for its main assessments, products, and services."

All data flows and their characteristics can be consulted in the Reporting Obligations Database. The provision of high quality data through Eionet is essential for the European Environment Agency to achieve its goal of providing timely, targeted, relevant and reliable information to policy makers, stakeholders and the general public. Country performance is assessed annually on the basis of priority data flows.

During the 2021 review process, a set of 24 Eionet priority data flows (previously 18) was adopted to better reflect the importance of data flows in EEA assessments.

As of today, the priority data flows for Italy cover the following topics:

Air: Air Quality Directive
Water: Bathing Water Directive, Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, Water Framework Directive and WISE flows, Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD)
Soil: Corine Land Cover
Industry and Emissions: PRTR, LCP, EU Registry on Industrial Sites, CLRTAP Convention, Greenhouse Gas Inventory, and national projections
Habitats and Biodiversity: Natura 2000 sites, National Inventory of Protected Areas, Birds Directive, and Habitats Directive
Noise: Environmental Noise Directive

The National Data Flow Coordinator (NDFC) is responsible for monitoring these flows. All data collected by the European Environment Agency through the Eionet network can be accessed on the following platforms.

Fig.3 Examples of data flows

National Data Flow Coordinator (NDFC)

The National Data Flow Coordinator (NDFC) was introduced in 2021, and its functions, in line with Article 4 of the EEA-Eionet regulation, are to: "Ensure coordination in the collection and sharing of data between Italy and the European Environment Agency, in order to effectively respond to the Agency's requests […]”

The specific tasks of the NDFC include:

Having a national overview of data flows to monitor compliance with reporting obligations;
Maintaining a comprehensive overview of the reporters responsible for their respective data flows;
Coordinating the national evaluation process of Priority Data Flows and providing feedback on the assessment score during the annual meeting;
Ensuring the operational continuity of the reporting flow and supporting the integration of new reporters, with a clear understanding of the necessary competencies and general practices for reporting to the EEA;
Contributing to the development of national data-sharing capabilities;
Having knowledge of the reporting process and tools to access the network of institutions responsible for reporting within their country.

Appointments to the group are made by the National Focal Point (NFP) of each country. The NDFC group is co-chaired by the Data Flow Manager of the European Environment Agency and a representative from the Member Countries, on a rotating annual basis.