1.For the purpose of facilitating the provision of compatible, interoperable, and continuous real-time traffic information services across the Union, road authorities and road operators shall provide the traffic data they collect and update pursuant to Article 10 in DATEX II (CEN/TS 16157 and subsequently upgraded versions) format or any machine-readable format fully compatible and interoperable with DATEX II.
2.The data referred to in paragraph 1 and the corresponding metadata including information on the quality thereof shall be accessible for exchange and re-use by any service provider within the Union:
(a)on a non-discriminatory basis;
(b)within a time-frame that ensures the timely provision of the real-time traffic information service;
(c)through the national or common access point referred to in Article 3.
3.For the purpose of optimising traffic management, road authorities and road operators may request service providers to provide the traffic data they collect and update pursuant to Article 10. Such data shall be provided in DATEX II (CEN/TS 16157 and subsequently upgraded versions) format or any machine-readable format fully compatible and interoperable with DATEX II, through the access point referred to in Article 3 and accompanied by the corresponding metadata including information on the quality thereof.