Understanding the EU through High-Value Datasets: Highlights from the interactive data story series
Five stories reveal how high-value datasets shape our understanding of Europe
The European Data Portal completed a series of interactive data stories designed to show how high-value datasets can turn complex topics into clear, accessible insights. Through compelling narratives and guided visualisations, the series illustrates how open data supports public debate and evidence-based policymaking across Europe.
The first story, What Water Can Take from Us, examines flooding risks in Spain and shows how climate data helps communities prepare for extreme events. Everyone’s Busy – But Not Equally explores work patterns across Europe, uncovering inequalities in how time is spent and what this means for society and the economy. In No Place Like Home, readers can delve into housing trends and migration flows, revealing how demographic change and affordability shape where people live and move.
The series also highlights wider vulnerabilities in The Geography of Risk, which maps countries’ exposure to economic and environmental shocks and explains why understanding risk is essential for planning and investment. Finally, Who Can Afford Silence? investigates noise pollution and its uneven impact on communities, showing why access to quiet spaces matters for health and well-being. Each story is accompanied by a visualisation note that explains how maps and charts help translate raw data into meaningful insights.
Together, these five stories demonstrate how open data empowers citizens, informs better decisions, and deepens our understanding of Europe’s shared challenges. You can explore the full series on The European Data Portal.
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