The Department of Loire-Atlantique Adopts the International Open Data Charter Principles

The Open Data Charter welcomes The Department of Loire-Atlantique (France) to our global network of adopters

We are pleased to announce the Department of Loire-Atlantique’s adoption of the international Open Data Charter principles.

OpenDataFrance asked Danielle Cornet, Vice-President of Youth and Citizenship, Gender Equality, Popular Education, and Breton issues, 3 questions regarding this momentous occasion and the challenges for territorial data.

• What motivated the Department of Loire-Atlantique to adopt the Open Data Charter principles, and what concrete commitments does this entail for your administration in the months ahead?

The Department of Loire-Atlantique has a long-standing commitment to open public data. As early as 2011, we embraced open data as a means of strengthening democratic transparency and improving the way public policies are designed and delivered. Joining the Open Data Charter today is a clear way of reaffirming and strengthening this commitment, at a time when citizens’ expectations regarding transparency, clarity and trust continue to grow. This initiative aligns seamlessly with our other commitments, most notably the Ethics and Integrity Charter adopted in May 2022, which establishes an exacting framework for responsible and exemplary public service. Our commitment to the Open Data Charter also marks a new milestone in structuring our open data policy. It supports the implementation of our 2025–2028 Open Data Roadmap. In practical terms, this entails several commitments for the coming months: focusing our efforts on the awareness and literacy of our elected officials, staff, and citizens regarding the benefits, challenges and uses of open data, and restoring the debate on data openness — and its inherent values of transparency, civic participation, and innovation — to the heart of public discourse, all in service of the common good. Through this approach, we aspire to consolidate a shared culture of data for the benefit of residents, local stakeholders and the quality of our public policies.

2. Which datasets do you intend to prioritize? Which of these hold the greatest significance for the region’s citizens, businesses, and researchers?

The Department of Loire-Atlantique has established a new label to identify datasets that meet high service-quality standards: "Departmental Reference Data." Reference data is defined as current, structured, standardized, comprehensive, documented, compatible with automated processing systems, unique, and clearly identified as such. This rigorous standard of quality and reliability is our priority to best meet the expectations of residents, researchers, and economic stakeholders across the region. To date, three datasets have been labeled as such: the list of members of the Departmental Council, the Department’s representation on external boards and organisations, and land-use classifications. The Department intends to extend this initiative by labeling new datasets, particularly the dataset on Departmental Council resolutions, which has been prioritised because it forms part of the common foundation of local data — as well as sets relating to executive orders and decisions.

Particular attention is also being directed toward mobility-related datasets within the region: road information, mobility alerts, carpooling areas, cycling routes, and traffic conditions. These data, highly anticipated by our fellow citizens, have a direct and tangible impact on daily routines, commuting, and quality of life. Furthermore, they offer significant potential for reuse by businesses and researchers, especially concerning issues of local and regional planning and ecological transition.

3. How does the Department intend to engage the community of reusers so that this open data generates genuine value for the region?

For open data to produce real value throughout the area, cultivating a community of reusers is, indeed, a vital lever. However, before we can engage this community effectively, we believe it is essential to better understand who they are. We must first identify our current and potential data users — whether they be businesses, non-profit organisations, academic institutions, residents and staff within the Department — and understand how they currently use — or could use — Departmental data.

It is with this perspective that the Department plans to conduct a dedicated survey in the near future to gather their expectations and needs, as well as any obstacles they may encounter in accessing or reusing open data. This feedback will allow us to adapt our engagement and support strategy in a targeted and relevant manner. Depending on the results, several forms of action may be considered: improving the quality and readability of datasets, showcasing existing reuses, holding workshops, discussion sessions and awareness-raising events, or even establishing partnerships and collaborative initiatives. The objective is to build a progressive approach, based on actual local uses and needs, so that open data can fully serve as a tool for innovation, transparency, and local development.

This article was originally publishedin Frenchon OpenDataFrance’s blog on 25 June, 2026.

The Department of Loire-Atlantique’s is officially our 175th government adopter. We are thrilled to welcome The Department of Loire-Atlantique to the ODC Network and look forward to being a part of their journey towards openness! Read their adoption letter inFrenchor inEnglish.