Kosovo achieved a perfect data flow score of 100% in the 2025 evaluation of Eionet core data flows, the European Environment Agency (EEA) reported in a briefing published on 19 June 2026. Seven other countries — North Macedonia, Croatia, Ireland, Hungary, Poland, Serbia and Slovakia — scored 90% or above. However, the overall average for the 27 EU countries stood at 88%, falling short of the 90% target set in the EEA-Eionet Strategy 2021-2030. The average for all EEA and cooperating countries was 85%.
The briefing evaluates hundreds of data deliveries from reporting countries across 14 core data flows covering air quality, air emissions, biodiversity, climate change mitigation, industrial pollution, and water. Each data flow is scored from 0 to 4 points based on timeliness and quality, with the total expressed as a percentage of the maximum achievable score. The annual evaluation, a continuation of reporting that began in 2005, is intended to help countries identify and prioritise resources for regular reporting. The EEA noted that the provision of high-quality data is fundamental to its mission of supplying timely, targeted, relevant and reliable information to policymakers and the public.
The Eionet network includes 32 EEA member countries and six cooperating Western Balkan countries. Moldova joined as a cooperating country in 2026 and was not part of this evaluation. Some countries are formally exempted from certain reporting obligations by prior agreement with the EEA or because a data flow is not applicable to their national context; these include Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland and Türkiye. The list of core data flows was last reviewed in 2021, maintaining alignment with the EEA-Eionet Strategy 2021-2030.
The 88% EU average represents a slight improvement over recent years but still leaves room for progress. The EEA considers the annual evaluation an important driver for improved reporting performance, conducted independently of compliance monitoring by the European Commission. For the 14 data flows assessed, the briefing provides a benchmark for countries to gauge their performance against peers. The results highlight that while top performers achieve near-perfect scores, many countries still struggle with timeliness or data quality, particularly in areas such as greenhouse gas inventories and water quality reporting.
Stakeholder impact: For EU and EEA member states, the evaluation offers a clear performance benchmark, helping them allocate resources to improve data delivery. Countries scoring below 90% may face pressure to enhance reporting systems, potentially increasing administrative costs. For the EEA, the data underpins its assessments and products; lower-than-target scores could affect the reliability of its outputs. Environmental policymakers and the public benefit from more consistent and timely data, supporting evidence-based decisions. However, the additional reporting burden on national environmental agencies, especially those with lower scores, may require increased funding or technical support.