The European Green Deal, a policy initiative by the European Union (EU), sets a path towards a sustainable and climate-neutral future by 2050. However, the latest European Environment Agency (EEA) report on the EU’s 8th Environment Action Programme (EAP) presents a nuanced view of this journey, highlighting both the progress made and challenges to overcome. EEA’s recent report is pivotal as it evaluates progress against the crucial objectives of the 8th EAP, a key element of the Green Deal. Alarmingly, the findings indicate that the EU might miss several of its 2030 environmental targets. The

In 2024, we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master (EMJM) programme, an initiative by the European Union that focuses on high-level, integrated master's programmes offered collaboratively by various universities in Europe. The EMJM embodies a commitment to unite diverse educational approaches, fostering a shared learning experience that transcends geographical boundaries. Over these two decades, Erasmus Mundus has established itself as a cornerstone of international academic collaboration, enriching the educational journey of students across continents. The programme

We are excited to unveil the findings from our User Survey Assessment—a comprehensive exploration into our user community. The data.europa.eu survey was circulated among our valued users last September and delved into various facets, capturing insights on demographics, preferred content, and reasons for visiting our portal. The fact that our user base mostly falls between the ages of 35 and 54 did not come as a surprise. However, what was unexpected, is that a majority of our users come from the private sector. This further validates how open data makes an impact on society not just through

Today marks a milestone in the European Union's digital landscape as the EU Data Act officially enters into force. The Data Act, part of the broader European strategy for data, is a response to the exponential growth in data volumes fuelled by the Internet of Things (IoT) revolution. It addresses the need to tap into the vast reservoirs of unused industrial data, creating opportunities for innovation and growth. At its heart, the Data Act is designed to democratise access to and utilisation of data. It aims to level the playing field by enabling users of connected devices and related services

Ge t ready for an exciting start in 2024 as the data.europa academy gears up for a n interesting line-up of webinars and panel discussions ! Th e first panel discussion of this series is set to unravel the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) and its profound impact on data generation , data governance and data policy within open data ecosystems. During these engaging sessions, we will examine the legal and policy challenges surrounding AI. The first panel discussion will focus on the intricate web of data ownership, date use, and the legal dimensions . It will be held on

On January 1, 1999, an important chapter in European economic history unfolded when 11 EU countries embraced a unified monetary policy, marking the birth of the Euro. Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year , the Euro stands as a symbol of economic strength and unity. Today, it proudly serves as the official currency of 20 EU nations , enriching the daily lives of more than 347 million people across the region. The Euro has not just been a currency; it has been a conduit for convenience, freedom, and boundless opportunities . As tangible notes and coins change hands, they echo the

In 2023, the data.europa academy curated over 20 dynamic webinars, fostering engagement among researchers, students, data providers, and organisations. Our sessions covered a wide variety of topics, from automatic publishing to the introduction of data spaces . The academy focuses on sharing best practices, ensuring all countries reap the benefits of data.europa.eu in using, finding, and publishing datasets. A notable mention is the lesson ‘ Measuring the impact of open data ’, enriched by the comprehensive Open Data Maturity webinar series. During these webinars, each session focused on a

The data.europa.eu team extends its warmest wishes for a joyful and prosperous New Year! In terms of open data, 2023 was a very exciting year. Throughout the year, several major reports and research articles were published. First, we had a significant number of publications related to the technical side of open data. For example, the “ Report on Data Homogenisation for High-value Datasets ”, focusing on a methodological approach to facilitate the identification and homogenisation of such datasets. We also addressed the topic of data spaces in our European Data Spaces and the Role of data

Season's greetings from the data.europa.eu team! As we gear up for 2024, we extend our heartfelt thanks to all our data providers and the enthusiastic community for your unwavering support and engagement throughout 2023. May your holidays be filled with joy and warmth. If you are looking to treat yourself to some open data delights, don't miss out on exploring:  Datasets , Statistics , SPARQL Search , and the Metadata Quality Dashboard   Upcoming data.europa academy AI training sessions and webinars, scheduled for January 19 th , 26 th and February 2 nd , 2024  Items from our Community, such

The European Parliament and the Council have reached a political agreement on the Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act) proposed by the European Commission in April 2021. This legal framework, a global first, categorises Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems based on their potential risks to citizens' rights and safety, marking a pivotal moment in the regulating AI technologies. While most AI systems are considered part of the minimal risk category and carry no obligations, those identified as high-risk must comply with strict requirements. These include risk-mitigation, high-quality of datasets