Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community (INSPIRE)

The purpose of the Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the European Council establishing an Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community (INSPIRE) is to ensure spatial information for the formulation and implementation of Community policies. It is primarily meant to ensure the accessibility and usability of data closely related to the state of environment.

The directive aims at the harmonisation, combination and standardisation of the spatial data infrastructure of Member States. It regulates the issues of metadata, the standardisation and interoperability of spatial data sets and services, network services and the sharing of data at EU and Member State levels. It is important that Member States create their own national solutions according to the specifications of INSPIRE.

The HCSO is responsible for the Statistical units, Population distribution — demography spatial data themes. Besides, HCSO publishes data in Agricultural and aquaculture facilities spatial data theme.

Official web page of INSPIRE: http://inspire.jrc.ec.europa.eu/