News and highlights

How many people live on our planet today, and what does that mean for our future? Each year, on 11 July, World Population Day invites people around the world to reflect on these questions. Established by the United Nations, the day raises awareness of how population trends influence key global challenges, from access to resources to economic development and environmental sustainability. First observed in 1989, World Population Day was inspired by growing interest in population milestones and their wider impact. Since then, it has become a moment to reflect on how the world’s population

Want to learn more about the role of non-EU member states within the European open data ecosystem? Join us on 10 July, from 10:00 to 11:30 CEST, where we will host a webinar together with experts from Ukraine and Serbia to explore how non-EU countries actively contribute to European open data ecosystems. As open data plays an increasing role in transparency, innovation, and evidence-based policymaking, cross-border collaboration is becoming essential to strengthen Europe’s data landscape. The webinar will feature contributions from Yanina Liubyva, representing Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital

The European Union’s Transparency Register is a publicly accessible database that shows which organisations and individuals seek to influence EU policy and decision-making. Managed jointly by the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission, the register lists all the interest representatives in Europe, such as non-governmental organisations and consultancies. It provides information on who they represent, which policies they aim to influence, and the resources they use. By making these activities visible, the register strengthens accountability and

Over the past months, the European Data Portal published three new data stories on gender equality , Cyprus , and the growing influence of social media across the EU . Together, they show how open data can be used by anyone to better understand the data shaping Europe today. The first story explored gender equality in Europe. Despite progress in recent decades, the EU-wide Gender Equality Index score of just 63.4 out of 100 shows how much work remains to be done. Women are still far less likely to hold senior positions and are more than three times as likely as men to work part-time, often

Can we trust data that was never directly collected from the real world? This was the central question explored during the data.europa academy webinar on Friday, 5 June 2026 titled ‘Responsible use of AI ‑ generated and synthetic data in research'. The session, part of the series “Open data, academia, and ethics”, introduced participants to the growing role of AI ‑ generated and synthetic data in research. For those less familiar with the topic, synthetic data refers to data that is artificially created, often to overcome challenges such as limited availability or privacy concerns, while still

Want to learn more about the role of non-EU member states within the European open data ecosystem? Join us on 10 July, from 10:00 to 11:30 CEST, where we will host a webinar together with experts from Ukraine and Serbia to explore how non-EU countries actively contribute to European open data ecosystems. As open data plays an increasing role in transparency, innovation, and evidence-based policymaking, cross-border collaboration is becoming essential to strengthen Europe’s data landscape. The webinar will feature contributions from Yanina Liubyva, representing Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital

Have you ever wondered how citizens’ voices are truly reflected in political decision-making? Every year on Monday, 30 June, the International Day of Parliamentarism shines a spotlight on the institutions that help turn public debate into laws and policies. Established by the United Nations in 2018, this day recognises the essential role of parliaments in representing people and shaping democratic societies. The International Day of Parliamentarism marks the founding of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in 1889, the world’s first political multilateral organisation promoting dialogue and

The Directive on open data and the re-use of public sector information, in short, the Open Data Directive , was adopted in 2019. It establishes a common legal framework across the European Union to promote the reuse of public sector data. Replacing the earlier Public Sector Information (PSI) Directive, it aims to remove barriers and unlock the value of data held by governments, public institutions and publicly funded bodies. The directive harmonises rules across EU Member States, ensuring that public sector information can be reused for both commercial and non-commercial purposes under

The European Commission continues to strengthen cross-border digital services through solutions like eDelivery , part of the Digital Europe programme . eDelivery allows organisations to exchange documents and data securely and reliably across sectors and countries. By providing a standardised approach to digital communication, it supports cooperation between public administrations, businesses, and citizens, contributing to a more connected and efficient European digital landscape. At its core, eDelivery is built on open standards and technical specifications that create a network of

From 1 July 2026, INSPIRE datasets will be searchable and accessible through the European Data Portal, making it easier to discover geospatial information alongside millions of other public sector datasets from across Europe. From the same date, the contents of the INSPIRE registry will be migrated to the EU Vocabularies website , ensuring continued access to controlled vocabularies, code lists and semantic assets. As part of this transition, the INSPIRE Geoportal will be retired on 1 July 2026. This move ensures continued access to INSPIRE datasets, while making them easier to discover