Speaking the same data language: How semantic interoperability
supports data reuse
Data from different organisations can be difficult to combine when the
same terms have different meanings. A contract, a supplier or a
railway asset may be described differently across systems and
countries. Semantic interoperability helps address this problem by
establishing shared definitions, making information easier to
understand and reuse without losing its original meaning.

A peer-learning session hosted by the Interoperable Europe Portal
[https://interoperable-europe.ec.europa.eu/collection/portal-support/news/semantic-interoperability-and-data-reuse-highlights]
on 14 September explored two practical examples. The Publications
Office’s eProcurement Ontology
[https://interoperable-europe.ec.europa.eu/collection/eprocurement/solution/eprocurement-ontology]
provides shared definitions for information across the public
procurement process, helping connect data about tenders, contracts and
organisations. The European Union Agency for Railways’ ontology
[https://interoperable-europe.ec.europa.eu/collection/semic-support-centre/solution/era-vocabulary-era-ontology]
brings together information about railway infrastructure, vehicles and
safety certifications. These frameworks help users interpret related
information consistently, even when it comes from different national
systems.

The European Data Portal [https://data.europa.eu/en] brings together
datasets from publishers across Europe, giving users a single place to
discover information on a wide range of topics. Shared definitions
help users understand what these datasets describe and assess whether
information from different sources can be meaningfully combined and
reused.

Want to see how a shared data language works in practice? Read
the session highlights
[https://interoperable-europe.ec.europa.eu/collection/portal-support/news/semantic-interoperability-and-data-reuse-highlights]
to discover the procurement and railway examples, or browse
the European Data Portal [https://data.europa.eu/en] for resources
relevant to your interests.

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Publication Date/Time
2026-10-21T09:00:00+00:00
Shared definitions and consistent descriptions help people find,
understand and reuse data across borders