In an era marked by rapid digital transformation, the Interoperable Europe Act (IEA) aims at boosting the seamless delivery of digital public services across the European Union. Essential to this is interoperability – the ability of diverse organisations and systems to interact effectively, exchanging data and ensuring that public services are not only technologically advanced but also accessible and user-centric. In this context, interoperability assessments are not just a technical necessity but also a strategic imperative.
Any interoperability assessment, as provided by Article 3 of the Interoperable Europe Act, aims to ensure that binding requirements for trans-European digital public services have adequately considered cross-border interoperability issues before being decided on.
Depending on the scope, public organisations are either legally required to carry out interoperability assessments, or, in other cases, a public organisation may carry out interoperability assessments on a voluntary basis.
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Contents
These guidelines do not provide a magic formula for ensuring full interoperability but rather a generic starting point for a journey towards more interoperability. They therefore aim to explain in a non-binding manner:
- why an interoperability assessment is useful and how it can help public organisations provide better digital public services at lower cost and with greater effectiveness (Chapter 1);
- when an interoperability assessment is mandatory according to the Interoperable Europe Act (Chapter 2);
- the different ways to perform an interoperability assessment (Chapter 3);
- what to take into account for the report on the interoperability assessment (Chapter 4);
- the critical factors for the successful implementation and governance of the processes related to interoperability assessments in your public organisation (Chapter 5);
- further resources and information on how to contribute to the further development of the guidelines (Chapter 6).
Stakeholders involved
Different groups have different stakes in the interoperability assessment process. These guidelines aim to target those different audiences that:
- decide if assessment is necessary in a particular case
- conduct the assessment
- participate in the assessment
- document the outcome of the assessment in the assessment report
- publish the assessment report
- decide on binding requirements based on the assessment report
- decide on the governance of interoperability assessments
- implement the binding requirements with the help of the assessment report
Interoperability Assessments' Guidelines by Chapter
Chapter 1: What are interoperability assessments and why are they relevant?
Interoperability assessments are evaluations required by Article 3 of the Interoperable Europe Act. They ensure that binding requirements for trans-European digital public services consider cross-border interoperability issues before implementation. These assessments are crucial because they facilitate seamless digital interactions among public organisations, which is essential for the mobility of citizens and businesses across the EU. Interoperability assessments cover legal, organisational, semantic, and technical dimensions, addressing challenges such as different legal frameworks, organisational structures, languages, and technical resources among Member States. They help reduce administrative burdens and promote peer learning, ultimately enhancing the quality and accessibility of trans-European digital public services.
Chapter 2: When is an interoperability assessment legally required?
This chapter clarifies when interoperability assessments are mandatory under the Interoperable Europe Act. It defines key concepts like trans-European digital public services and binding requirements. A decision tree is provided to help determine whether an assessment is required. Examples illustrate scenarios where assessments are or are not required, such as adapting national solutions for EU data exchange or procuring digital services that do not involve cross-border interactions. The chapter emphasises the importance of early assessments and clarifies that assessments may build on previous evaluations without needing repetition unless significant modifications occur.
Chapter 3: How to carry out an interoperability assessment?
This chapter provides a step-by-step guide to conducting an interoperability assessment. It includes preparation steps such as identifying the need for assessment, defining scope and objectives, assembling a team, and identifying stakeholders. The initial analysis involves reviewing documentation, identifying binding requirements, mapping affected services, and conducting stakeholder interviews. The core assessment examines the impact of binding requirements on cross-border interoperability across legal, organisational, semantic, and technical aspects. Best practices and examples, such as using the European Interoperability Framework (EIF) and specialised tools like interoperability maturity assessments, are provided to guide the process.
Chapter 4: How to document an assessment in a comprehensive report?
The assessment report is a critical deliverable, summarising binding requirements, affected services, and identified interoperability effects. It must be published on an official website, be machine-readable, and include specific content as mandated by the Interoperable Europe Act. The chapter outlines the minimum content required, such as general information, identified effects, and relevant interoperability solutions. It provides recommendations for ensuring machine readability and advises on safeguarding sensitive information. The report should be shared electronically with the Interoperable Europe Board to aid in decision-making and monitoring.
Chapter 5: How to establish a sound governance of the interoperability assessment process in your organisation?
Effective governance is essential for the success of interoperability assessments. This chapter discusses the importance of a variety of factors such as context dependency, organisational setup, sustainability, and refinement of the assessment process. It recommends integrating assessments into existing administrative workflows while highlighting first steps to take as well as the need for continuous improvement through reflection and sharing of best practices. This further helps to enable a digital-ready policy-making approach, i.e., formulating digital-ready policies and legislation by considering digital aspects from the start of the policy cycle, ensuring that they are ready for the digital age, future-proof and interoperable.
Chapter 6: Further resources and further development of these guidelines
This chapter outlines existing and future resources for conducting interoperability assessments. The Interoperable Europe portal serves as a central hub for knowledge exchange and resources, including information on the European Interoperability Framework (EIF) and its toolbox, as well as links to the Interoperable Europe Academy. Future tooling and online resources, also developed by the European Commission, will be available to assist in carrying out assessments and publishing reports. The guidelines themselves will continue to evolve, adapting to new circumstances and mandatory assessments, and are expected to be frequently revised to reflect current practices and user experiences.