Data stories

Throughout Europe, public institutions are putting open data into practice to better serve citizens. Such initiatives show how open data can support modern governance by enabling citizen engagement, building trust and driving service innovation. They also demonstrate that the value of open data extends beyond its original purpose, fuelling collaboration, new insights and more responsive public...

In January 2025, Poland took over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union . Succeeding Hungary , Poland now chairs the Council, commencing a trio presidency alongside Denmark and Cyprus. Under the overarching theme ‘Security, Europe!’ , Poland’s presidency places a strong emphasis on resilience – particularly in energy, agriculture and healthcare. This data story focuses on...

In March 2024, the European Commission published the 2025–2027 Horizon Europe strategic plan , outlining the EU’s priorities for research and innovation in the coming years. This forward-looking plan goes beyond funding – serving as a strategic blueprint for driving research and tackling some of the most pressing challenges faced by European citizens and businesses. The plan channels investment...

With a commitment to sustainable and greener urban development, European cities are embracing smart city initiatives. These initiatives aim to make urban areas more efficient, environmentally friendly, and inclusive. A smart city integrates digital technology to enhance traditional services and infrastructure, creating more efficient, liveable and business-friendly urban environments. This data...

The open data maturity (ODM) assessment aims to evaluate the progress of open data initiatives across Europe. In its first three years (2015–2017), ODM was measured based on two key dimensions: open data readiness and portal maturity. From 2018 onwards, the assessment evolved to incorporate four dimensions: policy, portal, quality and impact. Marking the 10th anniversary of the ODM report and the...

As data becomes more and more important in all aspects of our daily lives, the importance of clear, accurate, but also ethical and trustworthy data visualisation is undeniable. Visuals can clarify complex topics but can also mislead if not handled responsibly. In this conversation, we explore this critically important topic with Xaquín G. V., a seasoned visual journalist and data visualisation...

Winter holidays in Europe offer a unique glimpse into the diverse traditions, activities and customs that make this season memorable across different countries in the region. Public holidays during this period reflect Europe’s rich cultural, religious and national diversity, balancing shared holiday traditions with unique regional customs. This data story explores some enjoyable and light-hearted...

This series of data stories is intended to bring attention to the European Union's (EU) high-value datasets, and to demonstrate how they can be used to inform public discussions of relevant issues. Each story is paired with a visualisation note, an article that introduces readers to the language of data visualisation.

In July 2024, Hungary assumed the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union , one of the key institutions responsible for EU decision-making . Hungary’s term follows that of Spain and Belgium, marking the final phase of an 18-month cycle . This ' trio presidency ' system allows for continuity and coordinated progress, as each country builds on the work of its predecessors while...

1. How many projects are supported by the EU's cohesion policy? In the context of the EU's cohesion policy – funded by the European Regional Development Fund, the Cohesion Fund, and the European Social Fund – hundreds of thousand projects are funded in each 7-year financing period. In this article we look at how we count thematic allocations reported to projects (operations) based on the detailed...