In this panel session with policymakers and experts on open, online and distance education we will reflect on the present situation regarding open education. Open education is a philosophy, a way of carrying out education with the aim to widen access and participation to everyone by removing barriers and making learning accessible, abundant, and customisable for all. Open education is becoming ever more important in European higher education and on the global level as well due to the fact that digital technologies are one of the main driving forces behind education modernisation. So, why do we still need to discuss the benefits of open education? How pandemic, AI developments (especially chat GPT) and all other issues in the context of open education affected open education in a good or poor way? How can we make open education more visible and actual and did it become mainstream? We do have numerous examples of best practices, great projects on open education, initiatives, documents and policies. Nevertheless, numerous teachers are still unaware of open educational resources and open educational practices and educational institutions do not implement the principles of openness in education or research. Join us and share your views on this topic.