The blue economy has been defined by the World Bank as the ‘sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of ocean ecosystem.’ The blue economy of the European Union (EU) encompasses every industry and sector linked to oceans, seas and coasts, whether they operate directly within the marine environment or on land. The established sectors include marine living resources (such as fishing and aquaculture), marine non-living resources (mining), marine renewable energy, port activities (such as cargo and passenger services)

Hydrogen is the simplest and most abundant element in the universe and can be a versatile energy source once separated from other elements. It can be produced from many resources, including fossil fuels, nuclear energy, biomass and renewable energy sources. When burned, hydrogen emits only water. However, producing it from fossil fuels like coal and natural gas results in significant carbon dioxide emissions. In contrast, renewable hydrogen, also known as clean hydrogen, is made by using renewable electricity (e.g. wind, solar and hydropower) to split water into hydrogen and oxygen through a

Space technology plays a crucial role in our daily lives, contributing to a digital, green and resilient future. Satellites provide vital data and services, including weather forecasts, broadband internet access, GPS navigation and support in areas like agriculture, crisis response and climate change mitigation. In line with the EU’s ambitious plans for environmental and digital transformation laid out in the Green Deal and Digital Decade , the EU Space Programme ensures we have the data we need to tackle these challenges. The EU Space Programme covers a wide range of activities, including

In the European Parliament elections, citizens have the opportunity to choose their direct representatives at EU level in the European Parliament . Comprising Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) elected in each EU Member State, the European Parliament is the world’s only directly elected transnational assembly . The number of MEPs per Member State follows a degressive proportionality model based on population size, with a minimum of six MEPs for smaller Member States and a maximum of ninety-six for larger ones. While candidates present themselves in national parties, elected MEPs often

At data.europa.eu, we focus on multiple dimensions of data, including how regional and national data portals contribute to Europe’s digital strategy and the transition to a data-driven society. Today, we will take a look at a real use case: the new open by dat a competence centre ( oc.bydata ) in Bavaria, an initiative dedicated to enhancing the accessibility, usability and integration of open data. For insights from our previous exploration of the respective open.bydata portal in Bavaria, visit our earlier story here . We interviewed the team behind oc.bydata and specifically Mr Luis

The Council of the European Union is one of the three main institutions involved in EU decision-making . It comprises ministers from each EU Member State who negotiate and adopt legislative proposals together with the European Parliament. The Presidency of the Council rotates every 6 months. Following the end of the Spanish Presidency in December 2023, Belgium assumed the presidency from 1 January to 30 June 2024. Hungary will take over in July 2024. You can read more about the priorities of the Spanish Presidency in our previous data story . The presidencies of Belgium, Spain and Hungary

In the EU, agriculture and rural development encompasses the policies and practices that support farmers, food security, the environment, and rural areas. Many of these initiatives are established under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) , which is the oldest policy in the EU , first introduced in 1962. The CAP represents a partnership between agriculture and society, as well as between Europe and its farmers. As key focus areas, it aims to support the economic and environmental sustainability of agriculture and ensure the vibrancy and resilience of rural regions. The CAP specifically

The European data strategy sets out the vision of creating a single market for data where it can flow freely within the EU and across sectors. The creation of EU-wide, common, interoperable data spaces in strategic sectors is a pillar of the data strategy and will help overcome existing technical and legal barriers to data sharing and unleash the potential of data. These data spaces will bring together relevant data infrastructures and governance frameworks to facilitate data pooling and data sharing. As a reader of data.europa.eu, you might already be familiar with open data and the value it

The farm-to-fork strategy is one of the pillars of the European Green Deal , which strives to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent. In this regard, the farm-to-fork strategy strives to accelerate the European Union’s transition to a sustainable food system. A sustainable food system includes schemes such as creating a sustainability labelling framework that aligns with other initiatives like front-of-pack nutrition labelling and animal welfare labelling. Such efforts reflect the close links between healthy people, healthy societies and a healthy planet. Open data can be an important

The European Union implemented a new trade policy in 2022, aiming to transform its economy. This policy represents a shift towards an economy that is robust and responsive, focusing on three main goals: supporting the EU’s economic recovery, aligning with green and digital initiatives, and reshaping global trade for fairness and sustainability. Data is crucial for comprehending the complexities of trade within EU Member States. It provides a detailed, quantifiable representation of trade flows, revealing patterns, trends, and interdependencies between different economies within the EU. The