9. Regional Conference on Cadastre and Spatial Data Infrastructure was held

In Opatija, Croatia, 9th Regional Conference on Cadastre and Spatial Data Infrastructure entitled "Geospatial data in the service of strategic projects and economic development" was held on 16 and 17 June, 2016. The conference was financially supported by the Government of the Republic of Croatia and the Swedish regional donor project Impuls. Welcoming speeches at the opening of the conference was held by Peter Wasström, Head of the Department for International Cooperation of Lantmäteriet, Sweden, Mirjana Čagalj, vice president of the Croatian Chamber of Construction, Transport and Communications, Renata Duka, Deputy Minister of Justice, Milan Rezo, Deputy Minister of Construction and Physical Planning and Danko Markovinović, director of the State Geodetic Administration, who opened the Conference.

The goal of this traditional Regional Conference was to exchange experiences and knowledge gained during the implementation of cadastral reforms and the establishment of spatial data infrastructure, as well as to present benefits of geospatial data products by Geodetic Authorities in supporting of public and private investments, economic development and strategic projects. An important part of the Conference was dedicated to presentation of results and exchange of knowledge in the implementation of the INSPIRE Directive of the European Union in the Western Balkans.

The working part of the Conference started with conversation of directors of the cadastral administrations of the region of the Western Balkans, which, through discussion during the round table, have discussed current issues related to geospatial data and ways of their improvement. The participants, in addition to Mr. Željko Obradović, Director of the Federal Administration for Geodetic and Real Property Affairs, were directors of following agencies:

• Agency for Real Estate Cadastre of the Republic of Macedonia,
• Geodetic Administration of the Republic of Slovenia,
• Cadastral Agency of Kosovo
• Republic Administration for Geodetic and Real Property Affairs of Republic Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
• Republic Geodetic Authority of the Republic of Serbia,
• National Agency for geospatial information of Albania,
• Central Office for the registration of property of the Republic of Albania,
• Real Estate Administration of Montenegro

Following the discussion of the round table results of a questionnaire prepared by the Permanent Technical Commission of the Regional Conference on Cadastre and spatial data infrastructure were presented. So on this occasion Mr. Denis Tabučić, employee of Sector for Geoinformatic of the Federal Administration for Geodetic and Real Property Affairs have presented information collected on the status of topographic data in the region.

Regional conference in Opatija also devoted its attention to the implementation of various donor projects in the region. On this occasion, Ms. Anđa Zimić held a presentation of CILAP project, which in Bosnia and Herzegovina is carried out as a partner cooperation of entity geodetic administrations with Geodetic Administration of the Kingdom of Sweden.

A special guest and lecturer was Mr. Mick Cory, CEO Eurogeographics, the European main organization for surveying and mapping authorities all over Europe, and Maurice Barbieri, President of the European Council of Surveyors (CLGE).

The conference was also attended by Mr. Hugo de Groof, a representative of the European Commission, Mrs. Julie Barry, a representative of the Royal Agency for Land Registration of England and Wales, also a member of EULIS Board and Mr. Camille Bourguignon, a representative of the World Bank.

Headed by the Director, Mr. Željko Obradović, on behalf of Federal Administration for Geodetic and Real Property Affairs also were Mr. Nedžad Pašalić, assistant director of Geoinformatic Sector, Mr. Denis Tabučić, employee of Geoinformatic sectors and Mr. Muris Ajanović, employee of RERP project implementation unit.

Bearing in mind the lectures and presentations, as well as a discussion during the round table at the end of the Conference conclusions were adopted.

It was agreed that the next, the 10. Regional Conference on Cadastre and Spatial Data Infrastructure will be held in Macedonia, organized by the Agency for Real Estate Cadastre of the Republic of Macedonia.