'Open Maps For Europe 2' drives uptake of harmonized pan-European datasets

Strong uptake and growing demand for harmonized cross-border geospatial data underline the impact of Open Maps For Europe 2. Since its launch, the initiative has demonstrated how authoritative national datasets can be brought together into a usable, pan-European framework, responding to a long-standing need for seamless access to cross-border information.

More than 18,000 users have downloaded some 15,500 pan-European datasets and carried out 96.4 million web service transactions since Open Maps For Europe 2 (OME2) launched in early 2023.

The two-year project saw users of the Open Maps For Europe platform increase by 450%, from 4,000 to over 22,000. In particular, the OME2 high-value large-scale prototype exceeded expectations, attracting 600 registered users, more than quadrupling the initial target of 150.

Edge-matched official geoinformation

Since its release in 2024, the 1:10,000 scale authoritative dataset, covering administrative boundaries, transport and hydrography across 10 countries, has generated nearly 5,000 Web Feature Service (WFS) transactions, indicating frequent direct access to vector data by users via GIS software and applications. It is the first dataset created using the new production process developed by OME2 consortium member National Institute of Geographic and Forest Information (IGN France), designed to deliver edge-matched official geospatial information from multiple national sources.

In addition to IGN France, the project partners comprise EuroGeographics, the not-for-profit association for Europe’s National Mapping, Cadastral and Land Registration Authorities, together with the National Geographic Institute of Belgium, Hellenic Cadastre, the General Directorate for the Cadastre in Spain, and the Cadastre, Land Registry and Mapping Agency of the Netherlands.

Angela Baker, head of operations and data at EuroGeographics, said: “The consortium is delighted to report that the project has achieved all its objectives and significantly increased the number of users of pan-European data.”

She added that OME2 creates the foundation for a pan-European Spatial Data Infrastructure by addressing the complex challenge of delivering usable sovereign data across Europe. This fulfils a long-standing EU requirement for streamlined access to an authoritative cross-border dataset without the need to navigate multiple national portals or manage complex data integration.

Data-sharing tools

According to Baker, the production process and technical specifications save users time, effort and resources by providing harmonized data from multiple countries through a single portal with one easy-to-understand licence. This advances the data-sharing tools needed for free-flowing, interoperable data across the single market and supports the European Strategy for Data, as well as the Open Data and Public Sector Information Directive. It also enables EuroGeographics members to apply OME2 techniques nationally and to share best practices.

Through the project, OME2 has delivered a high-value large-scale pan-European prototype, including 1:10,000 scale authoritative administrative boundary, transport and hydrographic data for Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Luxembourg, Spain, Switzerland and the Netherlands. The data is available as Geopackage downloads by theme, country or administrative area, as well as through WFS, WMS or WMTS services via the Open Maps For Europe portal.

The work is underpinned by national expertise in the integration of core geospatial data and supported by quality assurance, edge-matching, harmonization and generalization tools. In addition, existing datasets available through the Open Maps For Europe portal have been enhanced, including the Open Cadastral Map, the prototype map service for European cadastral data. This now includes all 15 planned countries, with a basemap introduced to improve the user experience, alongside the delivery of a pan-European Cadastral Data Strategy.

OME2 ran from 2023 to the end of 2025 and was co-funded by the European Union, with matched investment from EuroGeographics and its members.