Newsletter - December 2025

Join our upcoming webinar presenting the third and final volume of the Use Case Observatory, a landmark study assessing the economic, social, governmental, and environmental impact of open data across Europe. Discover insights from two real-life reuse cases, learn about the methodology behind the study, and explore how open data fosters innovation, transparency and evidence-based decision-making. Gain practical guidance on how to maximise the benefits of open data in your own context and be inspired by examples shaping Europe’s digital transformation.

How do Europeans work, earn and rest? Our latest data story uses open data to reveal striking contrasts in working life across the EU. It examines which sectors employ the most people, compares working hours and wages, and highlights how paid time off varies among Member States. From manufacturing hubs to healthcare systems and tourism hotspots, discover how Europe balances productivity, pay and rest and why there’s no single “European” model of work.

How can open data make cities smarter, safer and more sustainable? Our data story  shows how European cities are turning high-value datasets into real-world solutions, from wildfire detection and flood prediction to smarter road maintenance and greener mobility. These examples illustrate how open data and EU-compliant practices strengthen urban resilience, support better decision-making and improve public services across Europe.

Noise pollution isn’t just an annoyance; it’s a growing public health and economic challenge. This data story explores how high-value EU datasets uncover the hidden costs of environmental noise across Europe. Learn who bears the burden, why silence matters for equity and well-being, and how data-driven policies can create quieter, healthier communities.

Are you a public data provider looking to contribute to Europe’s open data ecosystem? The Data Provider Manual offers clear, step-by-step guidance for publishing high-quality datasets on the European Data Portal. Covering everything from metadata standards and multilingual support to DCAT-AP compliance, it helps ensure both technical accuracy and policy alignment. Join the growing community of data providers enhancing transparency, innovation, and cross-border collaboration across Europe.

In this news piece, we look at how secure and scalable cloud systems are transforming Europe’s digital landscape. As part of the Digital Decade strategy, the EU is building a trusted, sustainable and competitive cloud ecosystem.  With goals such as developing 10 000 climate-neutral edge nodes and achieving 75% business adoption of cloud-edge technologies by 2030, Europe is investing in infrastructure that supports innovation, interoperability and data protection. Learn about initiatives such as the Cloud and AI Development Act, the EU Cloud Services Certification and other measures driving a digital and sustainable future.

In November, the data.europa academy hosted two webinars exploring climate action through open data and the new Data Union Strategy. Both sessions highlighted how open data supports policy goals and showcased real use cases demonstrating its impact. Catch up on the key insights, watch the recordings and access the presentation in our full recap.