Presentation given at the Service Design and Delivery in a Digital Age - Academies for EaP countries organised by the SIGMA Programme and the GiZ Eastern Partnership Regional Fund. Topic 2: Digital transformation.

1. Interoperable Europe Act
Linking public services, supporting public policies and building
public benefits
24May
2023
2nd Academy on Digital transformation (22 -26 May 2023, Moldova)
Day 3: Interoperability

2. Non-binding European Interoperability Framework (latest
version from 2017). National implementation monitored
through National Interoperability Framework Observatory
(NIFO).
Support to interoperability activities since 1995 (currently
under DEP), solutions to be found on online platform
(JoinUp) for interoperability solutions and community since
2011.
Cooperation with Member States through the informal CIO
network (since 2015), and the Expert Group on
interoperability of European public services (since 2020).
EU policy on interoperability – What is already happening?

3. Challenges with cross-border interoperability in practice
A hospital wants to share
the capacities of free
intensive care beds with
the nearest hospital that
is on the other side of the
border.
But: The current legal
and technical framework
just allows to share
nationally.
Car driver wants to get a digital
parking ticket in a city outside the
country his car is registered in.
But: The parking app only allows to
enter national license plates.
A city wants to implement traffic
management solutions. They
are looking for a good example.
While such good examples
exist across Europe, they are
difficult to find and reuse.

4. Lack of common minimum interoperability
specifications, shared solutions, standards.
Problem definition: Limited interoperability of services and data
of public administrations in Europe
Inefficient governance of interoperability efforts
between EU policies, the Commission and
Member States for all administrative levels and
sectors.
Lack of an 'interoperability-by-default' approach
in the design and implementation
of EU and MS's legislation and policies.
01

5. Open Data
Directive
European Strategy
for Data
Data Governance
Act
Digitalisation
of Justice
Regulation on
Digital Identity
Why a legislative package?
EU's digital strategy
• Key Public Services: 100% online by 2030
• Cross-border interoperability as an enabler
Gaps in existing legislation

6. To create an ecosystem of interoperability solutions for the EU's
public sector so that public administrations in the EU and other
stakeholders can contribute to and re-use such solutions, innovate
together and create public value
Interoperable Europe Act - Ambition and objectives
Help EU and Member States administrations to deliver connected digital
services to citizens and businesses across Europe
To establish an interoperability governance structure to
enable public administrations to work together and agree on
shared interoperability solutions
To ensure a consistent, human-centric EU
approach to interoperability from policy-making
to policy implementation
Supports the
achievement of the
Digital Decade 2030
targets
Communication to
set the context
and next steps

7. s t r u c t u r e d a n d
c o - owned E U
c o o p e r a t i o n
Strengthened intero
perability support
recognised reusable
interoperability
solutions
mandatory
interoperability
assessment
Interoperable Europe
Act – ensuring the
effective delivery of
digital public services
in the EU
…through

8. Scope and legal basis of the Act
Who is addressed?
Public sector bodies of Member States and Union institutions, agencies and bodies (Art.1(2))
What is laid down in the Regulation?
• measures to promote the cross-border interoperability of network and information systems
which are used to provide or manage public services in the Union
• by establishing common rules and a framework for coordination on public sector
interoperability, with the
• aim of fostering the development of interoperable trans-European digital public services
infrastructure (Art. 1(1))
Legal basis: Art. 172 TFEU (trans-European networks)

9. Art. 15
Interoperable Europe Board
Art. 15
Interoperable Europe
Board
Art. 16
Interoperable Europe
Community
Chapters
1. General provisions
2. Interoperable Europe Solutions
3. Interoperable Europe support
measures
4. Interoperable Europe Governance
5. Interoperable Europe planning &
monitoring
6. Final provisions
Structured and co-owned EU cooperation
Interoperable
Europe Board
Art. 15
National
competent
authorities
Art. 17
+
Interoperability
Coordinators in
the EUIABs
Art. 18
Interoperable
Europe Community
Art. 16

10. Main deliverables of the Regulation
• Mandatory interoperability assessment: Impacts on cross-border interoperability of the legal,
organisational, semantic and technical requirements for the IT system in scope (Art 3)
• Keeping ‘European Interoperability Framework’ (EIF) up-to-date and strenghtening alignment (Art 6)
• Common ‘Interoperable Europe’ label for openly accessible & reusable solutions (Art 7), published in the
Interoperable Europe Portal (Art 8)
• Mandatory share and reuse of publicly developed solutions (Art 4)
• Innovation measures, such as GovTech (Art 10) and regulatory sandboxes (Art 11-12)
• Policy implementation support projects (Art 9.), incl. trainings (Art 13) and peer reviews (Art 14)
• Interoperable Europe Agenda - annual strategic planning (Art 19)
• Monitoring - implementation of EIF, take-up of IOP solutions and development of OS solutions (Art 20)
Join the Interoperable Europe Community!

11. What’s in it for the Member States?
• Participate in the Interoperable Europe Board
• Assign national competent authorities to help implement the interoperability assessments and
oversee interoperability activities;
• Carry out interoperability assessments under certain conditions;
• Share interoperability assets upon request, under certain conditions;
• Contribute to monitoring;
But also…
• Be at the driving seat for shaping the Interoperable Europe policy;
• Benefit from support, capacity building, innovation cooperation and re-usable interoperability
solutions through the Interoperable Europe Portal and support measures.

12. NIFO – National Interoperability Framework
Observatory

13. Agenda
What is NIFO and which are the main reports
published under it?
How can EU countries assess their public
services?
How can the European Commission support
EU countries to foster interoperability?
Q&A

14. What is NIFO and which are the
main reports published under it?

15. The main mission of NIFO is to monitor the implementation of the revised version of
the European Interoperability Framework (EIF) and to help foster the capacity building
policy and modernisation of public administrations. By doing so, it aims at becoming an
online community of practice and the prime source of information regarding digital public
administration and interoperability matters within Europe.
The National Interoperability Framework
Observatory (NIFO)

16. The Digital Public Administration
factsheets
The Digital Public Administration factsheets are updated
in close collaboration with National Contact Points from
31 European countries.
The 2023 edition of
the Digital Public
Administration
factsheets has
recently been
launched and the
new edition of the
factsheets will be
published in the
summer 2023!
Stay tuned!

17. How can EU countries assess their
public services?

18. 1
The European
Interoperability
Framework (EIF)
monitoring
mechanism

19. Introduction to the European Interoperability
Framework (EIF)
Published in 2017,the
European interoperability
framework is a commonly
agreed approach to the
delivery of European public
services in an interoperable
manner. It defines basic
interoperability guidelines in
the form of common
principles, models and
recommendations.
“ “
Following a public consultation from February to April 2021, a revised version of the EIF will be published to reinforce EU governments’ interoperability strategy.
The EIF is principally promoted and maintained by the Interoperable Europe
programme in close cooperation between the Member States and the
Commission in the spirit of Articles 26, 170 and 171 of the Treaty on the
Functioning of the European Union calling for the establishment of
interoperable trans-European networks that will enable citizens to derive full
benefit from a European internal market.
Legal
Context
• Inspire European public administrations in their efforts to design and deliver
seamless European public services which are to the degree possible, digital-
by-default, cross-border by-default and open-by-default;
• Provide guidance to public administrations on the design and update of
national interoperability frameworks (NIFs), policies, strategies and
guidelines;
• Contribute to the establishment of the digital single market by fostering
cross-border and cross-sectoral interoperability.
Objectives
The EIF is meant to be a generic framework applicable to all public
administrations in the EU. It lays out the basic conditions for achieving
interoperability, acting as the common denominator for relevant initiatives at
all levels including European, national, regional and local, embracing public
administrations, citizens and businesses.
Scope

20. Introduction to the EIF Monitoring
Mechanism
Benefits
Monitoring Mechanism
Input
Primary indicators
A survey of national contact points will be
conducted to obtain responses needed to
measure primary indicators.
Secondary indicators
Secondary research will use existing data
sources, such as the Open Data Portal, DESI,
and eGovernment Benchmark Report,
Eurostat, etc.
THE EIF MONITORING
MECHANISM (EIF MM)
Member States gain intelligence on
which operation areas they can improve
in.
Member States obtain granular
information on their level of EIF
implementation.
Simplified evaluation process through
existing indicators.
Useful input for mid-term and final
evaluations.
Identification of synergies across EC
facilitating interoperability.

21. The interoperability principles are fundamental behavioural aspects to drive
interoperability actions. They describe the context in which European public
services are designed and implemented.
The 4 layers of interoperability: legal, organisational, semantic and technical
are complemented by cross-cutting governance components.
The conceptual model is modular and comprises loosely coupled service
interconnected components. Guides the planning, development, operation
and maintenance of public services by Member States.
Principle 1 - Subsidiarity and Proportionality 1
Principle 2 - Openness 2-4
Principle 3 - Transparency 5
Principle 4 - Reusability 6-7
Principle 5 - Technological neutrality and data portability 8-9
Principle 6 - User-centricity 10-13
Principle 7 - Inclusion and accessibility 14
Principle 8 - Security and privacy 15
Principle 9 - Multilingualism 16
Principle 10 - Administrative simplification 17
Principle 11 - Preservation of information 18
Principle 12 - Assessment of Effectiveness and Efficiency 19
Recommendation(s) n°
Interoperability Governance 20-24
Integrated Public Service Governance 25-26
Legal Interoperability 27
Organisational Interoperability 28-29
Semantic Interoperability 30-32
Technical Interoperability 33
Recommendation(s) n°
Conceptual Model
Recommendation(s) n°
34-35
Internal information sources and services 36
Basic Registries 37-40
Open Data 41-43
Catalogues 44
External information sources and services 45
Security and Privacy 46-47
Scoreboard 1
Interoperability
Principles
Scoreboard 2
Interoperability
Layers
Scoreboard 3
Conceptual
Model
Scoreboard 4
Cross Border
Interoperability
Introduction to the EIF Scoreboards (1/2)

22. The interoperability principles are fundamental behavioural aspects to drive
interoperability actions. They describe the context in which European public
services are designed and implemented.
The 4 layers of interoperability: legal, organisational, semantic and technical
are complemented by cross-cutting governance components.
The conceptual model is modular and comprises loosely coupled service
interconnected components. Guides the planning, development, operation
and maintenance of public services by Member States.
Principle 1 - Subsidiarity and Proportionality 1
Principle 2 - Openness 2-4
Principle 3 - Transparency 5
Principle 4 - Reusability 6-7
Principle 5 - Technological neutrality and data portability 8-9
Principle 6 - User-centricity 10-13
Principle 7 - Inclusion and accessibility 14
Principle 8 - Security and privacy 15
Principle 9 - Multilingualism 16
Principle 10 - Administrative simplification 17
Principle 11 - Preservation of information 18
Principle 12 - Assessment of Effectiveness and Efficiency 19
Recommendation(s) n°
Interoperability Governance 20-24
Integrated Public Service Governance 25-26
Legal Interoperability 27
Organisational Interoperability 28-29
Semantic Interoperability 30-32
Technical Interoperability 33
Recommendation(s) n°
Conceptual Model
Recommendation(s) n°
34-35
Internal information sources and services 36
Basic Registries 37-40
Open Data 41-43
Catalogues 44
External information sources and services 45
Security and Privacy 46-47
Scoreboard 1
Interoperability
Principles
Scoreboard 2
Interoperability
Layers
Scoreboard 3
Conceptual
Model
Scoreboard 4
Cross Border
Interoperability
A cross-border scoreboard was added as an additional transversal scoreboard in the 2022 edition of the EIF monitoring mechanism. In particular, it was added as an “add-on” to the
current framework to ensure the possibility to compare results with previous editions in order to reflect the thematic areas and recommendations outlined by the EIF Framework. Finally,
the aim was to reuse the current survey questions and secondary data sources as much as possible and add new questions only if strictly necessary.
Introduction to the EIF Scoreboards (2/2)

23. 0
1
2
3
4
Interoperability
governance
Integrated public
service governance
Legal
interoperability
Organisational
interoperability
Semantic
interoperability
Technical
interoperability
European results of the 2021 EIF Monitoring Mechanism
0
1
2
3
4
Principle 1
Principle 2
Principle 3
Principle 4
Principle 5
Principle 6
Principle 7
Principle 8
Principle 9
Principle 10
Principle 11
Principle 12
0
1
2
3
4
Conceptual Model
Internal
information
sources and
services
Base Registries
Open Data
Catalogues
External
information
sources and
services
Security and
Privacy
SCOREBOARD 1
INTEROPERABILITY PRINCIPLES
SCOREBOARD 3
CONCEPTUAL MODEL
SCOREBOARD 2
INTEROPERABILITY LAYERS

24. N u m b e r o f E u r o p e a n c o u n t r i e s r e a c h i n g t h e
m a x i m u m s c o r e f o r S c o r e b o a r d 1 , 2 0 1 9 v s 2 0 2 1
Fa s t - p a c e d a r e a s o f p r o g r e s s i o n
S l o w - p a c e d a r e a s o f p r o g r e s s i o n
Main trends after three years of monitoring
Interoperability
Principles
19
28
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Number of countries reaching the score of 4, per
principle and per year.*
2019 2020 2021
*Please note that secondary data are missing for the 2021 analysis of Principles 6, 9 and 10.
+8
+7
+1
+1

25. Main trends after three years of monitoring
N u m b e r o f E u r o p e a n c o u n t r i e s r e a c h i n g t h e
m a x i m u m s c o r e f o r S c o r e b o a r d 2 , 2 0 1 9 v s 2 0 2 1
Fa s t - p a c e d a r e a s o f p r o g r e s s i o n
S l o w - p a c e d a r e a s o f p r o g r e s s i o n
19
31
Interoperability
Layers
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Number of countries reaching the score of 4, per
layer and per year.
2019 2020 2021
+12
+8
+4

26. N u m b e r o f E u r o p e a n c o u n t r i e s r e a c h i n g t h e
m a x i m u m s c o r e f o r S c o r e b o a r d 3 , 2 0 1 9 v s 2 0 2 1
Fa s t - p a c e d a r e a s o f p r o g r e s s i o n
S l o w - p a c e d a r e a o f p r o g r e s s i o n
Main trends after three years of monitoring
15
24
Conceptual Model
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Conceptual
model
Internal
information
sources and
services
Base
registries
Open data Catalogues External
information
sources and
services
Security and
privacy
Number of countries reaching the score of 4,
per component and per year.
2019 2020 2021
+9
+7

27. 2
The Berlin
Declaration
monitoring
mechanism (BDM)

28. Introduction to the BDM
monitoring mechanism

29. BDM Benefits
SSMENT FRAMEWORK FOR THE MONITORING OF THE BERLIN DECLARATION
For Member States … For Academia…

30. Assessment Framework
Policy Area 4
Strengthen trust through
security in the digital
sphere
Policy Area 1
Promote fundamental
rights and democratic
values in the digital
sphere
Policy Area 2
Enhance social
participation and
inclusion
Policy Area 5
Strengthen Europe’s
digital sovereignty and
interoperability
Policy Area 6
Create value-based,
human-centred AI
systems for use in the
public sector
Policy Area 7
Foster resilience and sustainability
Policy Area 3
Foster digital
empowerment and digital
literacy
Level 1
Policy Areas aligned with the
Declaration's 7 key principles.
6.1
|
Foster
transparency
and
accountability
when
designing
digital
public
services
6.2
|
Share
best
practices
on
the
development
of
human-centric
AI
systems
6.3
|
Stimulate
knowledge
sharing
on
human
centric
technologies
7.1
|
Assess
and
make
transparent
energy
consumption
of
digital
tools
and
infrastructures
7.2
|
Evaluate
the
environmental
impacts
of
ICT
and
extend
the
lifespan
of
digital
equipment
7.3
|
Initiate
expert
consultations
on
appropriate
use
of
digital
technologies
7.4
|
Foster
the
exchange
of
crisis
management
data
1.1
|
Include
and
translate
fundamental
rights
into
policies
and
technology
procurement
rules
1.2
|
Raise
awareness
on
value-based
digital
transformation
1.3
|
Establish
ethical
and
technological
expert
councils
2.1
|
Encourage
the
use
of
digital
tools
to
foster
citizen
participation
in
policy
decision
making
2.2
|
Ensure
inclusiveness
and
accessibility
for
all
to
fully
digital
public
services
and
information
2.3
|
Provide
easy
access
to
services
from
mobiles
3.1
|
Launch
and
promote
initiatives
for
citizens’
digital
literacy
3.2
|
Provide
easily
accessible,
user-friendly
and
seamless
digital
services
3.3
|
Initiate
workshops/trainings
to
promote
digital
skills
in
the
public
sector
4.1
|
Promote
the
rollout
and
use
of
notified
eID
in
the
public
and
private
sectors
4.2
|
Promote
responsible
and
legally
compliant
re-use
of
data
4.3
|
Consider
ways
to
foster
agreement
on
ICT
security
requirements
5.1
|
Jointly
work
towards
agreements
on
requirements
for
technology
providers
5.2
|
Implement
common
standards
and
modular
architectures
in
cross
border
digital
solutions
5.3
|
Work
with
the
EC
to
provide
suitable
online
public
services
for
EU
cross-border
use
Level 2
Policy Actions that the Member
States have committed to
achieve in their respective
countries by 2024.
Level 3
KPIs split as:
- 27 Primary indicators
- 17 Secondary indicators
[eGov Benchmark (4), DESI
(3), CEF Dashboard (2), EIF
MM (4), Open Data Portal
(3), Electricity Directive
2019/944 (2021/2022) (1)]
32-
33
34
35-
36
37-
39
40-
42
43 44
1-2 3-5 6 7-8 9
10-
12
13-
14
15-
18
19
20-
22
23-
27
28 29 30 31

31. Results of the 2021 Edition
69%
76%
67%
27%
69%
81%
36%
78%
100%
66%
80%
94%
78%
72%
87%
53%
41%
76%
65%
50%
76%
71%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
1.1 1.2 1.3 2.1 2.2 2.3 3.1 3.2 3.3 4.1 4.2 4.3 5.1 5.2 5.3 6.1 6.2 6.3 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4
1. Promote fundamental rights
and democratic values in the
digital sphere
2. Enhance social participation
and inclusion
3. Foster digital empowerment
and digital literacy
4. Strengthen trust through
security in the digital sphere
5. Strengthen Europe’s digital
sovereignty and interoperability
6. Create value-based, human-
centred AI systems for use in
the public sector
7. Foster resilience and sustainability
Policy
Action
level
Policy Area level
72% 59% 69% 80% 79% 58% 66%
Policy Area 1
Promote fundamental
rights and democratic
values in the digital
sphere
Policy Area 2
Enhance social
participation and
inclusion
Policy Area 5
Strengthen Europe’s
digital sovereignty and
interoperability
Policy Area 6
Create value-based,
human-centred AI
systems for use in the
public sector
Policy Area 7
Foster resilience and sustainability
Policy Area 4
Strengthen trust through
security in the digital
sphere
Policy Area 3
Foster digital
empowerment and
digital literacy

32. Published in May 2022, the BDM Report
provides an overview of the 2021 Edition
of the monitoring mechanism. It includes
general conclusions at European level and
a country-level overview of the results for
each of the 22 policy actions in the
declaration, as well as an overview of the
good practices in the implementation of
such policy actions.
The BDM Report is
available on Joinup!

33. How can the European Commission
support EU countries to foster
interoperability?

34. Objectives Scope
The European Interoperability Framework
(EIF) Toolbox is an online tool designed to
provide guidance to national public
administrations and equip them with the
tools necessary to implement the EIF. The
main purpose of the EIF Toolbox is to provide
a comprehensive approach on interoperability
and allow its users to access information and
reusable solutions when tackling specific
aspects of interoperability or when designing
a new digital service.
The EIF Toolbox provides a mapping of the
main components of the EIF such as
recommendations on how to facilitate
interoperability and the key pillars of the
framework. It also encompasses solutions
that can help European countries foster
interoperability.
Introduction to the
EIF Toolbox
Types of solutions: Assessment tools |
Common frameworks | Common services |
Generic tools | Legal interoperability tools |
Semantic assets

35. Content for the
EIF Toolbox EXPAND THE SCOPE OF
SOLUTIONS
ADD RESOURCES TO SUPPORT
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
EIF
CREATE AN EIF COMMUNITY
DEVELOP AN ONLINE ASSISTANT

36. Stay in touch
Claudia.OLIVEIRA@ec.europa.eu or
nifo-monitoring@wavestone.com
(@InteroperableEU) / Twitter
Stay updated by visiting the NIFO Collection
Interoperable Europe | LinkedIn

37. Thank you