"In a disaster situation three things contribute to a success: having the right resource available in the shortest time, with the highest relevance and at the right location.Access to necessary information, communication with other rescuers and stakeholders as well as the availability of resources are key factors in minimizing damage and loss of life.Large scale disasters and crisis situations increase the requirements on man and material exponentially. Additional challenges, in particular in cross border events, include language barriers, knowhow and organizational barriers and technical barriers (communication and data exchange).To address this challenge it will be necessary to analyse three defining factors:1. Past responses to critical events and disasters in terms of time and cost2. The data and data management tool used by crisis managers and first responders3. The organisational structures of the crisis managers and first respondersThis analysis will enable the definition of a concept for a common information space.A requirement for a successful pan European information space is the definition of a common taxonomy.The common information space, which implies an EU wide standardization activity, will widen the EU wide market for organization developing solutions and tools for crisis management."