Report on the status of INSPIRE in the Balkan countries

Abstract

The INSPIRE Directive requires actions from the EU Member States and also has direct implications for the countries neighbouring the EU, regardless of whether or not they are candidate countries. Preconditions for EU membership, to which all the Western Balkan (WB) countries currently aspire, include the administrative capacity of the country to incorporate the EU acquis communautaire, fulfil adopted standards and execute obligations. The main objective of this report is to give an overview of the status of National Spatial Data Infrastructures (NSDIs) in WB countries and their efforts towards the implementation of the INSPIRE Directive. It also gives an overview of different JRC activities in the support of INSPIRE implementation in the WB countries. As part of their EU accession, many of the WB countries have drawn up national programmes to bring them into alignment with EU legislation. The INSPIRE Directive is explicitly mentioned in some of these programmes. The challenge of establishing NSDIs in the WB countries is compounded by the challenges of developing a market economy, governmental structures and institutions, including the modern National Mapping and Cadastral Agencies (NMCAs). The policy support given by the EU (including pre-accession funds) is expected to strengthen the efforts of these countries in this process.