A shared language for digital public services: Introducing core
vocabularies
Public administrations across Europe increasingly rely on data to
deliver digital services. But when organisations use different data
definitions, even simple exchanges become complex and costly. To
address this issue, the European Commission published e-government
core vocabularies
[https://ec.europa.eu/isa2/sites/default/files/e-government_core_vocabularies_handbook.pdf]
on the Interoperable Europe portal.
[https://interoperable-europe.ec.europa.eu/] These vocabularies
provide a shared, practical data language that helps public bodies
describe people, organisations, locations, and services in a
consistent way. 

Core vocabularies
[https://interoperable-europe.ec.europa.eu/collection/semic-support-centre/solution/core-vocabularies]
are simplified, reusable, and extensible data models. They focus on
the essentials needed to describe a real-world concept, such as a
person, a business or a public service, without tying that description
to a specific system or country. Together, these vocabolaries form a
common foundation that public administrations can reuse when building
new systems, exchanging information, or publishing open data. 

By adopting core vocabularies, organisations reduce duplication,
improve data quality, and make their services easier to connect with
others. These vocabularies are developed and maintained by SEMIC under
the Interoperable Europe Programme. They provide practical guidance
through handbooks and examples, which can help policy offers and
technical experts apply the vocabularies in real-world practices. 

Public administrations, project teams and data owners are encouraged
to explore the core vocabularies collection on the Interoperable
Europe portal and consider how these shared models can support their
next digital or data-sharing initiative. 

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Publication Date/Time
2026-05-15T08:00:00+00:00
How e-government core vocabularies support interoperability across
Europe