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.

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

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 and Cadastral Agencies (NMCAs). EuroGeographics is providing harmonized access conditions for this reference data. EBM v6.0 (1:100.000) offers the combined strength of detailed European administrative units and the linkage to corresponding NUTS codes. Feature catalogue: a) Administrative units (Area controlled by an administrative authority [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 EBM_v60_Specification.pdf

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

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 and Cadastral Agencies (NMCAs). EuroGeographics is providing harmonized access conditions for this reference data. EBM v5.0 (1:100.000) offers the combined strength of detailed European administrative units and the linkage to corresponding NUTS codes. Feature catalogue: 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_v50_Specification.pdf

EuroBoundaryMap provides a European geographic database for administrative and statistical regions that will be maintained at the source level by the National Mapping and Cadastral Agencies (NMCAs), 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 linkages to the corresponding LAU and NUTS codes. Feature catalogue: a) Administrative areas (Area controlled by an administrative authority; basic component of administrative units [EBM_A]) b) Administrative units (Unit of administration where a national authority has and/or exercises jurisdictional rights, for local, regional and national governance [AdministrativeUnit_x]) c) Administrative boundaries (Line of demarcation between administrative areas [AdministrativeBoundary]) d) Label points (Reference point of an administrative unit on lowest level; not available in the standard EBM v7.0 product; included in the Eurostat version [EBM_P]) e) Residence of Authority (Centre for national or local administration [ResidenceOfAuthority]) f) NUTS regions (Territorial unit for statistics defined in the framework of the Regulation (EU) No 31/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 January 2011 [NUTS_x]) g) LAU regions (Territorial unit for statistics defined by the National Statistical Institute [LAU_x]) More details are available in EBM_v70_Specification.pdf

EuroBoundaryMap provides a European geographic database for administrative and statistical regions that will be maintained at the source level by the National Mapping and Cadastral Agencies (NMCAs), 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 linkages to the corresponding LAU and NUTS codes. Feature catalogue: a) Administrative areas (Area controlled by an administrative authority; basic component of administrative units [EBM_A]) b) Administrative units (Unit of administration where a national authority has and/or exercises jurisdictional rights, for local, regional and national governance [AdministrativeUnit_x]) c) Administrative boundaries (Line of demarcation between administrative areas [AdministrativeBoundary]) d) Label points (Reference point of an administrative unit on lowest level; not available in the standard EBM v7.0 product; included in the Eurostat version [EBM_P]) e) Residence of Authority (Centre for national or local administration [ResidenceOfAuthority]) f) NUTS regions (Territorial unit for statistics defined in the framework of the Regulation (EU) No 31/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 January 2011 [NUTS_x]) g) LAU regions (Territorial unit for statistics defined by the National Statistical Institute [LAU_x]) More details are available in EBM_v70_Specification.pdf

EuroBoundaryMap provides a European geographic database for administrative and statistical regions that will be maintained at the source level by the National Mapping and Cadastral Agencies (NMCAs), 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 linkages to the corresponding LAU and NUTS codes. Feature catalogue: a) Administrative areas (Area controlled by an administrative authority; basic component of administrative units [EBM_A]) b) Administrative units (Unit of administration where a national authority has and/or exercises jurisdictional rights, for local, regional and national governance [AdministrativeUnit_x]) c) Administrative boundaries (Line of demarcation between administrative areas [AdministrativeBoundary]) d) Residence of Authority (Centre for national or local administration [ResidenceOfAuthority]) e) NUTS regions (Territorial unit for statistics defined in the framework of the Regulation (EU) No 31/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 January 2011 [NUTS_x]) f) LAU regions (Territorial unit for statistics defined by the National Statistical Institute [LAU_x]) g) Names of administrative units [EBM_NAM] h) Designations of administrative hierarchical levels [EBM_ISN] i) Relation to LAU and NUTS classification (Relationship between the SHN codes of administrative units on lowest national administrative level and corresponding statistical codes. [EBM_NUTS]) j) Languages and character sets (Description of languages used in EBM [EBM_CHR]) k) Co-administered units (Relationship between administrative unit and its co-administering administrative units on the same hierarchical level [EBM_coAdministered]) The product EBM v9.1 is a full update of all countries. More details are available in EBM_v91_Specification.pdf

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 and Cadastral Agencies (NMCAs). EuroGeographics is providing harmonized access conditions for this reference data. EBM v4.0 (1:100.000) offers the combined strength of detailed European administrative units and the linkage to corresponding NUTS codes. Feature catalogue: 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_v40_Specification.pdf