Present a revised version of the European Interoperability Framework (EIF) and support its take-up by national administrations

Potential of action

Without a comprehensive approach to interoperability, there is a risk that Member States might opt for different solutions that will build new barriers and fragmentation to the delivery of European public services in the internal market. It is therefore important to ensure that a coherent vision on interoperability exists in the EU in relation to interactions between the European public administrations and between them and citizens and businesses. This can be done through updating and extending the European Interoperability Framework (EIF) and updating the European Interoperability Strategy (EIS).

The review is deemed necessary in order to align with recent policy developments, with emerging technological trends and to put more focus on the implementation[1] of the EIF rather than the simple alignment with the national approaches on interoperability[2]. The fact that 25 MS have already a National Interoperability Framework and their overall alignment rate is 72% demonstrates their willingness to have a common framework on interoperability across Europe and proves that the EIF is a powerful instrument to serve this purpose[3].

Description of action

Today, there is a common understanding among Member States on the basic requirements to achieve interoperability, based on the "European Interoperability Framework" put forward by the Commission in 2010. The new European Interoperability Framework was adopted on 23 March 2017. The framework gives specific guidance on how to set up interoperable digital public services. It offers public administrations concrete recommendations on how to improve governance of their interoperability activities, establish cross-organisational relationships, streamline processes supporting end-to-end digital services, and ensure that both existing and new legislation do not compromise interoperability efforts. The EIF is accompanied by the Interoperability Action Plan, which outlines priorities that should support the implementation of the EIF from 2016 to 2020.

The Interoperability Action Plan is comprised of five focus areas, addressing issues related to the identification of mechanisms to govern interoperability, collaboration between organisations, engagement of stakeholders, and raising awareness of the benefits of interoperability. It also covers the development, improvement and promotion of key interoperability enablers, while considering the needs and priorities of end users.

The Commission through the ISA2 programme will start the monitoring of the implementation of the EIF across the Member States in 2019 (National Interoperability Framework Observatory project). The baseline data was collected in early 2019 and the monitoring method refined accordingly.  The first results will be available in Spring 2020 and data will be displayed at the NIFO observatory through a Business Intelligence tools based on DG ESTAT tool, Redisstat.

EIF training modules are available at NIFO and are undergoing a whole revamping to be part of the Interoperability Academy as eLearning modules. https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/sites/default/files/inline-files/SC64_D06.03.01_Training%20Material_FINAL_0.pdf

The EIF Toolbox is meant to be a living catalogue of solutions and best practices that can assist national public administrations in implementing the EIF. The EIF toolbox is being built and will be displayed in 2020 as an interactive tool hosted in ISA2 website.

As the revised EIF was adopted and its take up by national administrations has been supported and monitored through the ISA2 programme and the dedicated training modules, the action for the purposes of the action plan can be considered completed.

Nevertheless, the level of implementation of the EIF will be monitored on an annual basis and will be one of the key performance indicators of the Digital Europe Programme (DEP), particularly to the interoperability strand of specific objective 5.3 of DEP.

Finally, an evaluation of the framework will be launched in 2020 as foreseen in the EIF Communication (2017) 134 to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of the framework.

Main responsible at the European Commission: DG DIGIT

Target date: 2016-2019

Status: Completed

More info (website):https://ec.europa.eu/isa2/eif_en

https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/collection/national-interoperability-framework-observatory-nifo

[1]http://ec.europa.eu/atwork/synthesis/amp/doc/digit_sp_2016-2020_en.pdf

[2]http://ec.europa.eu/isa/consultations/impact-assessment-for-the-revision-of-the-eis-eifl_en.htm

[3]http://ec.europa.eu/smart-regulation/roadmaps/docs/2016_digit_001_eif_eis_en.pdf