Based on the results of ESPON 2006 Program, we propose to examine in a systematic way how to combine datasets at world/neighborhood levels (where basic territorial units are the states) and datasets at European/Regional levels (where basic territorial units are NUTS2 or NUTS3 units). The interest of such connection is to enlarge the scales of analysis from spatial point of view (situation of ESPON territory in the world, situation of eastern and southern neighbouring countries) but also from historical point of view as time series at state level are generally more easy to obtain on long period (1960-Present) than regional.
