Compatible data storage and exchange systems
Article 18
1. With a view to reducing costs and facilitating access to detailed and aggregated data for end-users of scientific data and other interested parties, Member States, the Commission, scientific advisory bodies and any relevant end-users of scientific data shall cooperate to develop compatible data storage and exchange systems, taking into account the provisions of Directive 2007/2/EC. Those systems shall also facilitate dissemination of information to other interested parties. Such systems may take the form of regional databases. Regional work plans referred to in Article 9(8) of this Regulation may serve as a basis for agreement on such systems. 2. The Commission shall be empowered to adopt implementing acts laying down rules on procedures, formats, codes and timetables to be used to ensure the compatibility of data storage and exchange systems, and to establish safeguards, where appropriate, in the event that the data storage and exchange systems referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article include information relating to identified or identifiable natural persons. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 25(2).