At the European level several initiatives have been carried out to promote data comparability and data quality, e.g. the INSPIRE Directive which aims at making available relevant, harmonised and quality geographic information for the purpose of formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of Community policy-making and the GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security) initiative launched in 1998. For ESPON, the database is considered a central element in the programme’s scientific platform and a tool providing input for analysis based on territorial indicators. It is equally important as a tool for a continuous territorial monitoring. Against this backdrop, it is crucial to maintain, update, further develop and expand the ESPON database, resulting from the ESPON 2006 Programme. Achievements: Reports:Final Report - Main Report PDF Final Report - Overview of Technical Reports PDF Final Report - Technical Reports ZIP Draft Final Report PDF Draft Final Report - Technical reports PDF Interim Report Two PDF Interim Report Two - Database Application HTML Interim Report Two - Draft Technical Reports nb. these technical reports are still in the process of finalisation PDF Press Release - Interim Report One 16 July 2009 PDF Interim Report One PDF Inception Report PDF Inception Report - Annex PDF Project Specification DOC http://www.espon.eu/main/Menu_Projects/Menu_ScientificPlatform/espondatabase2013.html