INSPIRE (Infrastructure for Spatial Information in Europe) Directive

Citation
Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 March 2007 establishing an Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community (the INSPIRE (Infrastructure for Spatial Information in Europe) Directive) (full-text).

Overview
The Directive established an infrastructure for spatial information in Europe to support Community environmental policies, and policies or activities which may have an impact on the environment.

INSPIRE is based on the infrastructures for spatial information established and operated by the 27 Member States of the European Union. The Directive addresses 34 spatial data themes needed for environmental applications, with key components specified through technical implementing rules.