25.4.2007 Official Journal of the European Union L 108/1 (Acts adopted under the EC Treaty/Euratom Treaty whose publication is obligatory) DIRECTIVES 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 (INSPIRE) THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Commu- nity, and in particular Article 175(1) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (1), After consulting the Committee of the Regions, Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty, in the light of the joint text approved by the Conciliation Committee on 17 January 2007 (%), Whereas: (1)  Community policy on the environment must aim at a high level of protection taking into account the diversity of situations in the various regions of the Community. Moreover, information, including spatial information, is needed for the formulation and implementation of this policy and other Community policies, which must integrate environmental protection requirements in accordance with Article 6 of the Treaty. In order to bring about such () OJ C 221, 8.9.2005, p. 33. () Opinion of the European Parliament of 7 June 2005 (O] C 124 E, 25.5.2006, p. 116), Council Common Position of 23 January 2006 (O] C 126 E, 30.5.2006, p. 16) and Position of the European Parliament of 13 June 2006 (not yet published in the Official Journal). Decision of the Council of 29 January 2007 and legislative resolution of the European Parliament of 13 February 2007 (not yet published in the Official Journal). integration, it is necessary to establish a measure of coordination between the users and providers of the information so that information and knowledge from different sectors can be combined. (2) The Sixth Environment Action Programme adopted by Decision No 1600/2002/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 July 2002 (}) requires full consideration to be given to ensuring that the Community’s environmental policy-making is undertaken in an in- tegrated way, taking into account regional and local differences. A number of problems exist regarding the availability, quality, organisation, accessibility and sharing of spatial information needed in order to achieve the objectives set out in that programme. (3) The problems regarding the availability, quality, organisa- tion, accessibility and sharing of spatial information are common to a large number of policy and information themes and are experienced across the various levels of public authority. Solving these problems requires measures that address exchange, sharing, access and use of interoperable spatial data and spatial data services across the various levels of public authority and across different sectors. An infrastructure for spatial information in the Community should therefore be established. (4)  The Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community (Inspire) should assist policy-making in relation to policies and activities that may have a direct or indirect impact on the environment. (5) Inspire should be based on the infrastructures for spatial information that are created by the Member States and that are made compatible with common implementing rules and are supplemented with measures at Community level. These measures should ensure that the infrastructures for spatial information created by the Member States are compatible and usable in a Community and transboundary context. () OJ L 242,10.9.2002, p. 1.