EuroBoundaryMap (formerly known as SABE - Seamless Administrative Boundaries of Europe) provides a European geographic database for administrative and statistical regions that will be maintained at the source level by the National Mapping Agencies (NMAs), and by providing harmonized access conditions for this geographic information within the framework of EuroGeographics. EBM (1:100.000) offers the combined strength of detailed European administrative units and the linkage to its corresponding NUTS codes. a) Administrative units (Area controlled by an administrative unit [EBM_A]) b) Label points (Reference point for the main area of an administrative unit, can be used for labelling purposes [EBM_P]) c) Administrative boundaries (A line of demarcation between administrative controlled areas [EBM_L]) d) Derived units on higher national levels (Administrative units on higher hierarchical levels (USE-Regions [USE_X]), Derived national NUTS regions [NUTS_X]) More details are available in EuroBoundaryMap_v30_Specification.pdf

This map shows the natural susceptibility of agricultural soils to compaction if they were to be exposed to compaction. The evaluation of the soil’s natural susceptibility is based on the creation of logical connections between relevant parameters (pedotransfer rules). The input parameters for these pedotransfer rules are taken from the attributes of the European soil database, e.g. soil properties: type, texture and water regime, depth to textural change and the limitation of the soil for agricultural use. Besides the main parameters auxiliary parameters have been used as impermeable layer, depth of an obstacle to roots, water management system, dominant and secondary land use. It was assumed that every soil, as a porous medium, could be compacted. The map of natural soil susceptibility to compaction was created from the evaluation of selected parameters from the ESDB. The soil susceptibility to compaction was divided into 4 categories. Two additional categories represent the data concerning places where this evaluation was either not relevant or could not been provided because of lack of information. In total there are 6 categories (attribute "Evaluation" in the shapefile): 0 - no soil. This represents water bodies, glaciers and rock outcrops 1 - low susceptibility to compaction 2. - medium susceptibility to compaction 3. - high susceptibility to compaction 4. - very high susceptibility to compaction 9. - no evaluation possible. This was the case of towns including also soils, soils disturbed by man and marsh. This metadata record is adapted from the orginal one received from JRC.

EuroBoundaryMap (formerly known as SABE - Seamless Administrative Boundaries of Europe) provides a European geographic database for administrative and statistical regions that will be maintained at the source level by the National Mapping Agencies (NMAs), and by providing harmonized access conditions for this geographic information within the framework of EuroGeographics. EBM (1:100.000) offers the combined strength of detailed European administrative units and the linkage to its corresponding NUTS codes. a) Administrative units (Area controlled by an administrative unit [XX_A where XX is a country code]) b) Label points (Reference point for the main area of an administrative unit, can be used for labelling purposes [XX_P where XX is a country code]) c) Administrative boundaries (A line of demarcation between administrative controlled areas [XX_L where XX is a country code]) d) Derived units on higher national levels (Administrative units on higher hierarchical levels (USE-Regions [USE_X]), Derived national NUTS regions [NUTS_X]) More details are available in EuroBoundaryMap_v30_Specification.pdf

The Global Administrative Unit Layers (GAUL) is an initiative implemented by FAO within the EC-FAO Food Security Programme funded by the European Commission (http://www.foodsecinfoaction.org/News/news_06_06.htm). The GAUL aims at compiling and disseminating the most reliable spatial information on administrative units for all the countries in the world, providing a contribution to the standardization of the spatial dataset representing administrative units. The GAUL always maintains global layers with a unified coding system at country, first (e.g. regions) and second administrative levels (e.g. districts). In addition, when data is available, it provides layers on a country by country basis down to third, fourth and lowers levels. The GAUL is released once a year and the target beneficiary of the GAUL data is the UN community, the Universities and other authorized international and national institutions/agencies. Data might not be officially validated by authoritative national sources and can not be distributed to the general public. A disclaimer should always accompany any use of the GAUL data. About 21 countries have been updated respect to the previous release (see countries_updated.dbf). The GAUL keeps track of administrative units that has been changed, added or dismissed in the past for political causes. Changes implemented in different years are recorded in the GAUL on different layers. For this reason the GAUL product is not a single layer but a group of layers, named "GAUL Set" (see Gaul_Set.pdf). The original dataset containing Level 0 administrative units has been combined by EEA with some attributes data provided within GAUL in a separate file. No data from outside GAUL have been used and it is possible to reconstruct the original dataset by removing the extra attributes added.

EuroGlobalMap is a topographic dataset that covers the EU (except Bulgaria), Andorra, Croatia, Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland, Ukraine and Vatican at the scale 1:1 Million. It is produced in cooperation by the National Mapping Agencies of Europe, using official national databases. Thematic layers: administrative boundaries, hydrography, transportation, settlements, elevation points, named location. This metadata only refers to the coastline from EuroGlobalMap.

This map shows the natural susceptibility of agricultural soils to compaction if they were to be exposed to compaction. The evaluation of the soil’s natural susceptibility is based on the creation of logical connections between relevant parameters (pedotransfer rules). The input parameters for these pedotransfer rules are taken from the attributes of the European soil database, e.g. soil properties: type, texture and water regime, depth to textural change and the limitation of the soil for agricultural use. Besides the main parameters auxiliary parameters have been used as impermeable layer, depth of an obstacle to roots, water management system, dominant and secondary land use. It was assumed that every soil, as a porous medium, could be compacted. The map of natural soil susceptibility to compaction was created from the evaluation of selected parameters from the ESDB. The soil susceptibility to compaction was divided into 4 categories. Two additional categories represent the data concerning places where this evaluation was either not relevant or could not been provided because of lack of information. In total there are 6 categories (attribute "Evaluation" in the shapefile): 0 - no soil. This represents water bodies, glaciers and rock outcrops 1 - low susceptibility to compaction 2. - medium susceptibility to compaction 3. - high susceptibility to compaction 4. - very high susceptibility to compaction 9. - no evaluation possible. This was the case of towns including also soils, soils disturbed by man and marsh. This metadata record is adapted from the orginal one received from JRC.

The delineation of European mountain areas was carried out by using digital elevation models, considering different criteria combination of thresholds of altitude, climate, and topography variables (IP2008 8.2.7 Regional and territorial development of mountain areas, ETC/LUSI - EEA). This dataset was created in 2008, covers the full European continent and is a reference layer for the EEA Report No 6/2010 on Europe's ecological backbone: recognising the true value of our mountain (https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/europes-ecological-backbone).

The Saline and Sodic Soils Map shows the area distribution of saline, sodic and potentially salt affected areas within the European Union. The accuracy of input input data only allows the designation of salt affected areas with a limited level of reliability (e.g. < 50 or > 50% of the area); therefore the results represented in the map should only be used for orientating purposes. Two major data sources are available to delineate areas at risk of salt accumulation in Europe: The European Soil Database (ESDB, 2004) and the map of salt affected soils in Europe compiled by Szabolcs (1974). Szabolcs’ map was of pressing importance in the 1970s because the salinity and alkalinity of soils hindered the satisfactory agricultural utilisation of lands in many regions. To delineate an updated map of salt affected soils in Europe, items from the two databases were selected that have characteristics of salt affected or potentially salt effected soils. Potentially salt affected refers to soils that are at present not or to a very low degree saline or alkaline, but where human intervention (irrigation) may cause their considerable salinisation and/or alkanisation/sodification (Szabolcs, 1974). The information on salinity and alkalinity, available directly or through pedotransfer rules in the ESDB, is described in detail by Baruth et al. (2006). In the WRB (World Reference Base) soil names that give information about salinity are Solonchaks, "salic" soils, or "petrosalic" soils. This metadata record is adapted from the orginal one received from JRC.

The Global Administrative Unit Layers (GAUL) is an initiative implemented by FAO within the EC-FAO Food Security Programme funded by the European Commission (http://www.foodsecinfoaction.org/News/news_06_06.htm). The GAUL aims at compiling and disseminating the most reliable spatial information on administrative units for all the countries in the world, providing a contribution to the standardization of the spatial dataset representing administrative units. The GAUL always maintains global layers with a unified coding system at country, first (e.g. regions) and second administrative levels (e.g. districts). In addition, when data is available, it provides layers on a country by country basis down to third, fourth and lowers levels. The GAUL is released once a year and the target beneficiary of the GAUL data is the UN community, the Universities and other authorized international and national institutions/agencies. Data might not be officially validated by authoritative national sources and can not be distributed to the general public. A disclaimer should always accompany any use of the GAUL data. About 21 countries have been updated respect to the previous release (see countries_updated.dbf). The GAUL keeps track of administrative units that has been changed, added or dismissed in the past for political causes. Changes implemented in different years are recorded in the GAUL on different layers. For this reason the GAUL product is not a single layer but a group of layers, named "GAUL Set" (see Gaul_Set.pdf). The original dataset containing Level 0 administrative units has been combined by EEA with some attributes data provided within GAUL in a separate file. No data from outside GAUL have been used and it is possible to reconstruct the original dataset by removing the extra attributes added.

The Global Administrative Unit Layers (GAUL) is an initiative implemented by FAO within the EC-FAO Food Security Programme funded by the European Commission (http://www.foodsecinfoaction.org/News/news_06_06.htm). The GAUL aims at compiling and disseminating the most reliable spatial information on administrative units for all the countries in the world, providing a contribution to the standardization of the spatial dataset representing administrative units. The GAUL always maintains global layers with a unified coding system at country, first (e.g. regions) and second administrative levels (e.g. districts). In addition, when data is available, it provides layers on a country by country basis down to third, fourth and lowers levels. The GAUL is released once a year and the target beneficiary of the GAUL data is the UN community, the Universities and other authorized international and national institutions/agencies. Data might not be officially validated by authoritative national sources and can not be distributed to the general public. A disclaimer should always accompany any use of the GAUL data. About 21 countries have been updated respect to the previous release (see countries_updated.dbf). The GAUL keeps track of administrative units that has been changed, added or dismissed in the past for political causes. Changes implemented in different years are recorded in the GAUL on different layers. For this reason the GAUL product is not a single layer but a group of layers, named "GAUL Set" (see Gaul_Set.pdf). The original dataset containing Level 0 administrative units has been combined by EEA with some attributes data provided within GAUL in a separate file. No data from outside GAUL have been used and it is possible to reconstruct the original dataset by removing the extra attributes added.