La European Union Open Data Directive establishes the common legal framework governing the reuse of public sector information. Adopted in 2019, it replaces the previous Public Sector Information Directive (PSI) with the aim of facilitating access to public data and promoting its use by citizens, businesses and administrations.
The standard is based on the principle that public data must be "open by default"This means that information generated or managed by public bodies, such as statistical, geographical data or research results funded with public funds, must be available in digital formats, accessible and ready for reuse.
The directive harmonises rules on reuse across EU Member States and ensures that public sector information can be used for both commercial and non-commercial purposes under transparent and fair conditions. It also extends the scope of reusable data to include public undertakings and certain research datasets.
Among the main innovations, the promotion of real-time access to dynamic data through APIs (application programming interfaces) stands out, as well as the limitation of the costs that administrations can pass on to facilitate access. These measures contribute to facilitating the creation of new digital services and promoting data-based innovation.
The Open Data Directive also strengthens the transparència institutional, it favors evidence-based decision-making and promotes economic development through the reuse of public information. Thanks to this regulatory framework, companies, researchers and citizens can create new applications, services and knowledge from public data.
You can consult the full text of the directive on the portal EUR-Lex and learn about practical examples of data reuse in European Data Portal.
