What is the primary function of data.europa.eu?

The primary function of data.europa.eu is to serve as a web portal that provides open data. This data is published by various entities including EU Institutions, national portals of EU Member states and non-member states, and international organizations with a predominantly European scope. It acts as a central access point for a wide array of public information.

What type of online platform is data.europa.eu classified as?

Data.europa.eu is classified as a public service portal and an institutional information platform. It serves as a central online gateway for accessing public sector information and data from European bodies.

In how many languages is data.europa.eu available?

The data.europa.eu portal is available in all 24 official languages of the European Union, making it accessible to a broad range of users across the EU.

What were the predecessors to the current data.europa.eu portal?

The current data.europa.eu portal consolidates and succeeds two previous initiatives: the European Data Portal and the EU Open Data Portal. This consolidation aimed to create a single, more comprehensive meta-catalogue for European data.

Who is the owner of the data.europa.eu portal?

The European Union is the owner of the data.europa.eu portal, reflecting its role as a key initiative for open data within the Union.

Which entity was responsible for the creation of data.europa.eu?

The EU Publications Office was responsible for the creation of data.europa.eu. This office manages and disseminates publications and data for the European Union institutions.

Is registration required to use data.europa.eu, and for what purpose will it be offered in the future?

Currently, registration is not required to use data.europa.eu. However, it will soon be offered for advanced features, such as saving queries and receiving alerts, to enhance user experience and functionality.

When was the data.europa.eu portal officially launched?

The data.europa.eu portal was officially launched on April 21, 2021. This marked the consolidation of previous European data initiatives into a single platform.

What is the content license for editorial material on data.europa.eu?

Unless otherwise specified, the editorial content published on the data.europa.eu portal is released under a Creative Commons 'CC-BY-4.0' license. This license generally allows for free use and distribution, provided appropriate credit is given to the original creator.

What types of organizations contribute open data to the European Data Portal?

The European Data Portal receives open data from EU Institutions, national portals of EU Member states and non-member states, and international organizations that primarily operate within a European scope.

What was the initial European Data Portal, launched in 2015, an initiative of?

The initial European Data Portal, which launched its beta version on November 16, 2015, was an initiative of the European Commission and formed part of the Digital Single Market strategy. The Digital Single Market aims to remove barriers to online trade and services across the EU.

How many datasets are currently published on the portal, and from how many catalogues do they originate?

Currently, more than 1,600,000 datasets are published on the data.europa.eu portal, originating from 178 different catalogues. This vast collection makes it a significant resource for open data.

How does the European Data Portal function as a metadata catalogue?

The European Data Portal functions as a metadata catalogue by publishing metadata from other data and geospatial data catalogues. This means it doesn't host all the raw data itself, but rather provides structured information about where to find and access various datasets.

What common ontology is used for publishing metadata on the portal?

The portal publishes metadata following a common ontology known as the DCAT Application Profile for data portals in Europe, or DCAT-AP. An ontology provides a structured framework for organizing information, ensuring consistency and interoperability across different data sources.

What are the main objectives behind the European Data Portal's approach to metadata publication?

The main objectives behind the European Data Portal's approach to metadata publication are fostering and facilitating the re-use of open data, promoting and supporting the publication of high-quality metadata, and encouraging the use of Linked Open Data. Linked Open Data is a method of publishing structured data so that it can be interlinked and become more useful through semantic queries.

Can the content of the European Data Portal be freely re-used, and what conditions apply?

Yes, the content of the portal is available in all 24 EU Official Languages and can be freely re-used for any purpose as Open Data. However, users must follow the specific license terms associated with individual datasets, as licensing can vary.

Which early EU directive laid the groundwork for both EU and member state data portals concerning public sector information?

Directive 2003/98/EC on the re-use of public sector information set the initial path for the development of both EU and member state data portals. This directive aimed to make public sector information more widely available for re-use.

How did Decision 2006/291/EC contribute to the availability of European Commission data?

Decision 2006/291/EC established the rules for opening the European Commission's data for re-use. This was a crucial step towards making governmental data more transparent and accessible to the public.

What significant commitment was made by Commission Decision 2011/833/EU regarding EU data?

Commission Decision 2011/833/EU amended the earlier 2006 decision, committing to making data available in machine-readable formats and establishing the creation of an EU Open Data Portal. This portal was designed to publish data from all EU Institutions, agencies, and bodies, promoting greater interoperability and automated processing of data.

What principle did Directives 2013/37/EU and (EU) 2019/1024 establish regarding public sector information?

Directives 2013/37/EU and (EU) 2019/1024, which revised the 2003 Directive, established the principle that public sector information shall be available to the public for free or at a very low cost by default. This policy aims to maximize the accessibility and re-use of government data.

What was the purpose of the INSPIRE Directive (2007/2/EC)?

The INSPIRE Directive (Directive 2007/2/EC) defined an Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community. Its purpose was to set forth, through a series of implementing rules, standards for making geo-spatial data interoperable and re-usable among member states and the geo-spatial data community. Geo-spatial data refers to information that identifies the geographic location of features and boundaries on Earth.

How did the INSPIRE Directive influence the creation of geodata portals harvested by data.europa.eu?

The INSPIRE Directive significantly influenced the creation of geodata portals harvested by data.europa.eu, as many of these portals were initially created in compliance with the Directive's requirements for spatial data infrastructure. This ensured a standardized approach to geographical information across Europe.

Who funds the European Data Portal?

The European Data Portal is funded by the European Union. This funding underscores the EU's commitment to open data initiatives and digital transformation.

Which office manages the European Data Portal?

The European Data Portal is managed by the Publications Office of the European Union. This office plays a central role in the dissemination of information from EU institutions.

Which Directorate-General of the European Commission is responsible for implementing EU open data policy in relation to the portal?

The Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology of the European Commission is responsible for the implementation of EU open data policy, working in collaboration with the project's management for the European Data Portal.

Which consortium of organizations is contracted for the delivery of the European Data Portal?

The delivery of the European Data Portal is contracted to a consortium of organizations led by Capgemini Invent. This consortium also includes Agiledrop, con terra, Data Excellence, Fraunhofer FOKUS, INTRASOFT International, OMMAX, the Lisbon Council, and Timelex.

Beyond accessing datasets, what other types of information can users find on the European Data Portal?

In addition to accessing datasets, users can find editorial articles related to open data on the portal. These include data-stories, news articles, studies, and reports, providing broader context and insights into the open data landscape.

In what formats can datasets be viewed on the portal?

Datasets on the portal can be viewed as web-pages or as RDF linked data in any of the 24 EU official languages. RDF, or Resource Description Framework, is a standard model for data interchange on the web, often used for Linked Open Data.

What is the 'Open Data Maturity report' found on the portal?

The 'Open Data Maturity report' is a yearly study available on the portal that assesses the level of open-data maturity of EU member states and EFTA countries. This report helps track progress and identify areas for improvement in open data policies and implementation.

What is the purpose of the data.academy section of the portal?

The data.academy section of the portal aims to promote open data literacy. It achieves this by providing free access to courses, videos, and learning tools related to various themes, such as open data licensing, linked open data, and data visualization.

How does the portal support external re-use of its data?

The portal supports external re-use of its data by offering a dedicated section that provides links to external sources. These external sources demonstrate how the data is being re-used, for example, in the building of dedicated applications.

What technical tools are available to facilitate machine-readable access to metadata on the portal?

To facilitate machine-readable access to metadata, the portal offers an API (Application Programming Interface) and SPARQL endpoints. An API allows different software systems to communicate, while SPARQL is a query language for databases, enabling structured retrieval of information.

What is a key principle guiding the software development for the European Data Portal's architecture?

A key principle guiding the software development for the European Data Portal's architecture is the extensive use of open-source solutions whenever possible. Open-source software is publicly accessible and can be modified and distributed, promoting transparency and collaboration.

Which open-source solution is used for the editorial content management system of the portal?

Drupal, an open-source content management system, is used for the editorial content management system of the European Data Portal. Content management systems help organize and publish digital content.

What role does Virtuoso Universal Server play in the portal's architecture?

Virtuoso Universal Server is used as a triplestore for the linked-data database within the portal's architecture. It also offers a SPARQL endpoint, which is essential for querying and retrieving data from the linked-data database. A triplestore is a specialized database for storing and managing data as triples, which are subject-predicate-object statements.

When is custom software developed for the European Data Portal?

Custom software is developed ad hoc for the European Data Portal when a suitable open-source solution cannot be found. This ensures that specific functional requirements are met even when existing open-source tools are insufficient.

How does the portal handle metadata from different data models like INSPIRE-CSW and CKAN?

Because all metadata on the portal is stored using DCAT-AP, specific open-source solutions were developed by the portal to map data from portals that use different data models, such as INSPIRE-CSW and CKAN. This mapping ensures interoperability and consistency across diverse data sources.

What are the general terms for re-using most of the data accessible via data.europa.eu?

Most of the data accessible via data.europa.eu is released by the respective data providers using an open license. Generally, this data can be used for free for both commercial and non-commercial purposes, provided that the source is acknowledged. This encourages widespread use and innovation.

Are there any exceptions to the general re-use terms for data on the portal?

Yes, specific conditions for re-use apply to a small amount of data on the portal. These conditions primarily relate to the protection of data privacy and intellectual property. A direct link to these specific conditions can be found on each relevant dataset page.

Where can users find additional information on the terms of use for the portal's content?

Users can find additional information on the terms of use for the portal's content in the portal's copyright notice. This notice provides detailed guidelines and legal information regarding the use of materials found on the site.

European Data Portal Wiki: Unlocking European Data: A Scholarly Exploration of data.europa.eu

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What is data.europa.eu?

A Unified Public Service Portal

data.europa.eu functions as a comprehensive public service web portal, serving as a central repository for institutional information and open data. Launched on April 21, 2021, it represents a significant consolidation, integrating datasets previously available through the distinct European Data Portal and the EU Open Data Portal into a singular, cohesive meta-catalogue. This initiative underscores the European Union's commitment to fostering transparency and facilitating access to public sector information across its member states and beyond.^[1]^[2]

Scope and Reach

Owned by the European Union and created by the EU Publications Office, data.europa.eu aggregates open data published by EU Institutions, national portals of EU Member States, non-member states, and various international organizations with a predominantly European focus. The portal is designed for broad accessibility, offering its content in all 24 official languages of the European Union. This multilingual approach ensures that a diverse range of users can engage with the data effectively, promoting wider participation and understanding of European public data.^[3]^[4]

Data Volume and Structure

As a robust meta-catalogue, data.europa.eu currently hosts metadata for over 1,600,000 datasets, sourced from 178 distinct catalogues. The metadata within the portal adheres to a common ontology: the DCAT Application Profile for data portals in Europe (DCAT-AP). This standardized approach is critical for fostering and facilitating the re-use of open data, promoting the publication of high-quality (meta)data, and advancing the utilization of Linked Open Data principles. This structured framework enhances data interoperability and discoverability across the European data landscape.^[6]^[7]^[8]

Legal Foundations

Directives on Public Sector Information

The establishment and operation of data.europa.eu are firmly rooted in a series of European Union directives aimed at promoting the re-use of public sector information. Directive 2003/98/EC initially paved the way for both EU and member state data portals. This was further strengthened by Decision 2006/291/EC, which set rules for opening the European Commission's data, and its amendment, Commission Decision 2011/833/EU, which mandated machine-readable data formats and led to the creation of the original EU Open Data Portal. Subsequent revisions, Directive 2013/37/EU and Directive (EU) 2019/1024, solidified the principle that public sector information should be available to the public for free or at a very low cost by default.^[9]

Geospatial Data Integration

Beyond general public sector information, the INSPIRE Directive (Directive 2007/2/EC) plays a crucial role in the portal's legal framework. This directive established an Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community, defining standards and implementing rules to ensure geo-spatial data is interoperable and re-usable among member states and the broader geo-spatial data community. Many of the geo-data portals harvested by data.europa.eu were initially developed in compliance with the INSPIRE Directive, highlighting the portal's comprehensive approach to diverse data types.^[10]

Governance and Implementation

The portal is funded by the European Union and meticulously managed by the Publications Office of the European Union. The Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CNECT) of the European Commission holds the responsibility for implementing the EU's open data policy, working in close collaboration with the project's management team. The operational delivery of the portal is entrusted to a consortium of specialized organizations, led by Capgemini Invent, and includes partners such as Agiledrop, con terra, Data Excellence, Fraunhofer FOKUS, INTRASOFT International, OMMAX, the Lisbon Council, and Timelex. This multi-stakeholder approach ensures robust governance and expert execution.^[11]

Key Features

Data Access and Exploration

data.europa.eu offers users a sophisticated interface to access a vast array of datasets from various catalogues. Beyond simple retrieval, the portal provides detailed metadata assessment reports, enabling users to evaluate data quality and provenance. It also intelligently suggests links to similar datasets, enhancing discoverability and facilitating comprehensive research. Datasets can be consumed either as user-friendly web-pages or as RDF linked data, available in all 24 official EU languages, catering to diverse technical and linguistic needs.^[12]

Editorial Content and Insights

Beyond raw data, the portal enriches the user experience with a wealth of editorial content pertinent to open data. This includes engaging data-stories, timely news articles, in-depth studies, and comprehensive reports. A notable annual publication is the Open Data Maturity report, which rigorously assesses the level of open-data maturity across EU Member States and EFTA countries. This content serves to contextualize the data, highlight its impact, and inform policy and practice in the open data domain.^[13]

Data Literacy and Re-use

A dedicated "data.academy" section underscores the portal's commitment to fostering data literacy. It provides free access to a rich collection of courses, instructional videos, and learning tools. These resources cover essential themes such as open data licensing, the principles of linked open data, and effective data visualization techniques, empowering users to better understand, utilize, and derive value from open data. Furthermore, a specialized section offers direct links to external sources that re-use the portal's data, showcasing innovative applications and fostering a vibrant ecosystem of data-driven solutions.^[14]

Machine-Readable Access

For advanced users and automated systems, data.europa.eu provides an Application Programming Interface (API) and SPARQL endpoints. These features facilitate access to metadata in machine-readable formats, enabling programmatic interaction with the portal's vast catalogue. This technical accessibility is crucial for developers, researchers, and organizations looking to integrate European open data into their own systems, build new applications, or conduct large-scale data analysis, thereby maximizing the utility and impact of the data.^[15]

Architectural Design

Open-Source Foundations

In adherence to European Union mandates, the architecture of data.europa.eu is predominantly built upon open-source solutions. This strategic choice not only promotes transparency and collaboration but also ensures cost-effectiveness and flexibility in development. For instance, Drupal serves as the robust content management system for all editorial content, providing a flexible and widely supported platform for managing the portal's textual information and articles.^[16]

Linked Data Infrastructure

The portal leverages Virtuoso Universal Server as its triplestore, a critical component for managing the linked-data database. This enables the storage and querying of data in a semantic web format, facilitating complex data relationships and interoperability. Furthermore, Virtuoso provides a SPARQL endpoint, allowing users and applications to query the linked data using the SPARQL query language, which is essential for advanced data retrieval and integration scenarios.^[17]

Data Model Harmonization

Recognizing that data providers utilize diverse data models, the portal's architecture includes custom-developed open-source software solutions specifically designed for data mapping. These solutions are instrumental in translating and harmonizing metadata from various external portals, such as those using INSPIRE-CSW or CKAN, into the standardized DCAT Application Profile (DCAT-AP). This crucial layer of abstraction ensures that despite originating from disparate systems, all metadata within data.europa.eu conforms to a unified structure, thereby enhancing consistency and searchability across the entire catalogue.^[18]

Terms of Use

Open Licensing for Data

A cornerstone of data.europa.eu is its commitment to open data principles. The vast majority of datasets accessible through the portal are released by their respective data providers under open licenses. This typically means the data can be freely used for both commercial and non-commercial purposes, provided that the source is appropriately acknowledged. This approach maximizes the potential for innovation and value creation from public data across various sectors.^[19]

Specific Conditions and Editorial Content

While most data is openly licensed, a small proportion may be subject to specific conditions for re-use, primarily concerning data privacy and intellectual property rights. A direct link to these specific conditions is conveniently provided on each relevant dataset page, ensuring users are fully informed. For the editorial content published directly on the portal, such as articles and reports, it is generally released under a Creative Commons 'CC-BY-4.0' license, unless explicitly stated otherwise. The portal's comprehensive copyright notice offers additional details on these terms of use.^[20]

Common Licenses in Practice

As of September 2021, the most frequently encountered open licenses governing the content within data.europa.eu include the Creative Commons 'CC-BY-4.0' license, the 'Data licence Germany – attribution' license, and Etalab's Open Licence, which is utilized by the French government. This diversity reflects the varied legal frameworks and practices across European public administrations, all converging under the portal's meta-catalogue approach to facilitate data access. Furthermore, while registration is not currently mandatory, it will soon be offered to unlock advanced features such as saving queries and receiving personalized alerts, enhancing user engagement and customization.^[21]

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References

A full list of references for this article are available at the European Data Portal Wikipedia page

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Disclaimer

Important Notice

This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.

This is not official European Union information or legal advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for consulting official European Union documentation, legal texts, or seeking advice from qualified legal or data governance professionals. Always refer to the official data.europa.eu portal and relevant EU legal instruments for precise and authoritative information.

The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided herein.

Unlocking European Data

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What is data.europa.eu? ℹ️

🏛️ A Unified Public Service Portal

🇪🇺 Scope and Reach

📊 Data Volume and Structure

Legal Foundations ⚖️

📜 Directives on Public Sector Information

🗺️ Geospatial Data Integration

🤝 Governance and Implementation

Key Features ✨

🔍 Data Access and Exploration

📰 Editorial Content and Insights

🎓 Data Literacy and Re-use

🤖 Machine-Readable Access

Architectural Design 🏗️

⚙️ Open-Source Foundations

🔗 Linked Data Infrastructure

🔄 Data Model Harmonization

Terms of Use 📝

🔓 Open Licensing for Data

⚖️ Specific Conditions and Editorial Content

📜 Common Licenses in Practice

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Disclaimer ⚠️

📜 Important Notice

Dive in with Flashcard Learning!

What is data.europa.eu?

A Unified Public Service Portal

Scope and Reach

Data Volume and Structure

Legal Foundations

Directives on Public Sector Information

Geospatial Data Integration

Governance and Implementation

Key Features

Data Access and Exploration

Editorial Content and Insights

Data Literacy and Re-use

Machine-Readable Access

Architectural Design

Open-Source Foundations

Linked Data Infrastructure

Data Model Harmonization

Terms of Use

Open Licensing for Data

Specific Conditions and Editorial Content

Common Licenses in Practice

Teacher's Corner

True or False?

Test Your Knowledge!

Gamer's Corner

Discover other topics to study!

References

Feedback & Support

Disclaimer

Important Notice