ELAP 3.0.0 Online Documentation

Statement: Accessibility ensures that data, services, and solutions from public administrations are available and usable by all citizens, regardless of their capabilities, background, or disabilities, through standardised mechanisms.

Rationale: Implementing the principle of Accessibility when providing public services is crucial for promoting inclusivity and ensuring that all citizens can benefit from public services and data. Service accessibility ensures that public services are designed to be perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust, catering to the diverse needs of all citizens, including those with disabilities. By adhering to accessibility principles, public administrations can enhance user experience, foster trust, and ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. Accessibility also supports social equity by providing equal opportunities for all individuals to access information and services, thereby reducing digital divides and fostering a more inclusive society.

Implications: To effectively implement Accessibility, organisations must adopt standardised mechanisms. Public sector bodies must take necessary measures to make their electronic services perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. This includes designing, constructing, maintaining, and updating digital services with accessibility principles and techniques in mind, ensuring that all citizens, regardless of their digital capabilities, can access and benefit from these services. Additionally, organisations should implement regular accessibility audits and user testing to identify and address any barriers. Training and awareness programs for staff are essential to embed accessibility considerations into the organisational culture. Legal and regulatory frameworks should be established and enforced to ensure compliance with accessibility standards, promoting a consistent and inclusive approach across all public services.

Principle Source: Towards a Framework for Identifying and Measuring the Benefits of Accessibility

Principle Source URL: https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/collection/nifo-national-interoperability-f…

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Implementation

Interoperability Layer: Organisational IoP, Semantic IoP, Technical IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/accessibility

Statement: Where possible, public administrations should seek to streamline and simplify their administrative processes by improving them or eliminating any that do not provide public value.

Rationale: Administrative simplification means, where possible, streamlining and simplifying administrative processes by improving them or eliminating anything that does not provide public value. Administrative simplification can help businesses and citizens to reduce the administrative burden of complying with EU legislation or national obligations.

Digitisation of public services should take place in accordance with the following concepts:

• digital-by-default, whenever appropriate, so that there is at least one digital channel available for accessing and using a given European public service;

• digital-first which means that priority is given to using public services via digital channels while applying the multi-channel delivery concept and the no-wrong-door policy, i.e. physical and digital channels co-exist.

Implications: Simplify processes and use digital channels whenever appropriate for the delivery of European public services, to respond promptly and with high quality to users’ requests and reduce the administrative burden on public administrations, businesses and citizens.

Principle Source: Administrative Simplification Underlying Principle (10) of the European Interoperability Framework (EIF)

Principle Source URL: https://interoperable-europe.ec.europa.eu/collection/nifo-national-interoperability-framework-observatory/glossary/term/administrative-simplification 

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Strategy (Public Policy Cycle)

Interoperability Layer: Legal IoP, Organisational IoP, Semantic IoP, Technical IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/administrative-simplification 

Statement: The implementation of digital public services has a focus on integration, technology, governance or legal perspective, matching the administration's preference.

Rationale: Experience shows that a focused approach is a critical success factor in the implementation of digital public services.

Implications: An assessment of the context is made prior to the implementation in order to determine the best focus. The priority of the implementation activities is determined by the chosen focus. Use mechanisms provided by the European Commission to plan and align the strategy with real needs. An example is IDPSIO, the IDPSIO (Interoperable Digital Public Services Implementation Orientation) Assessment Tool aims to support digital public service owners in deciding the approach to follow in order to implement their digital public services.

Principle Source: COM(2017) 134 final ANNEX 2 COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS European Interoperability Framework - Implementation Strategy

Principle Source URL: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/ES/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52017DC0134 

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Governance

Interoperability Layer: Legal IoP, Organisational IoP, Technical IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/best-fit-implementation-orientation 

Statement: Composability ensures that solutions are divided into modular building blocks that can be aggregated and orchestrated, simplifying their selection, increasing reuse potential, and enabling interchangeability and flexibility.

Rationale: Implementing the principle of Composability in digital public services and solutions is crucial for reducing complexity and enhancing flexibility. By dividing a solution into modular building blocks, each with clear boundaries and specific capabilities, organisations can address smaller, more manageable problems. This approach simplifies the selection process, as building blocks can be easily identified and chosen based on their defined scope. Composability also increases the potential for reuse, as well-defined building blocks can be repurposed across different solutions. Additionally, it allows for flexibility, as building blocks can be substituted or reconfigured without affecting the overall system, enabling continuous improvement and adaptation to changing requirements.

Implications: To effectively implement Composability, organisations must adopt a modular approach to design and development, ensuring that each building block has a well-defined scope and set of responsibilities. Business processes should include clear guidelines for defining, documenting, and selecting building blocks. Technically, solutions must support modularity and interoperability, with components that can be easily integrated, replaced, or reconfigured. Continuous monitoring and evaluation are necessary to ensure that the composability principle is maintained throughout the lifecycle of the solution. Additionally, fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration is essential to encourage the development and reuse of modular building blocks. Training and capacity-building initiatives should be implemented to ensure that all stakeholders understand and can effectively apply the principle of composability.

Principle Source: The Pillars of Composability

Principle Source URL: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4842-4398-5_9 

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Implementation

Interoperability Layer: Semantic IoP, Technical IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/composability 

Statement: Confidentiality ensures that sensitive information is protected from unauthorised access and disclosure, maintaining trust and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.

Rationale: Implementing Confidentiality in solution architecture is crucial for maintaining the trust of citizens and stakeholders by safeguarding sensitive information. It helps prevent data breaches and unauthorised access, which can lead to significant legal, financial, and reputational damage. Ensuring confidentiality also supports compliance with various legal and regulatory frameworks, thereby enhancing the credibility and reliability of public sector services.

Implications: To effectively implement Confidentiality, organisations must invest in robust security measures and training programmes to ensure that all personnel understand the importance of protecting sensitive information. Business processes should be designed to minimise the risk of unauthorised access, including strict access controls and regular audits. 
Technically, solutions must incorporate strong encryption methods for data at rest and in transit, implement secure authentication mechanisms, and ensure continuous monitoring and incident response capabilities to detect and address potential breaches promptly.

Principle Source: NIS 2 Directive

Principle Source URL: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2022/2555/oj/eng 

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Governance

Interoperability Layer: Organisational IoP, Semantic IoP, Technical IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/confidentiality 

Statement: Public administrations must ensure that digital public services are aligned with public policy goals, designed to address societal needs, and monitored for efficiency and effectiveness in their implementation and delivery.

Rationale: Digital public services are a key instrument for implementing public policies that address real and relevant societal needs. To ensure their success, it is essential that these services are designed, implemented, and monitored in alignment with public policy goals, maximising their efficiency and effectiveness in meeting societal demands.

Public administrations have a dual responsibility: firstly, to evaluate and ensure that resources dedicated to the implementation of digital public services are proportionate to the societal needs they address and the value they provide; secondly, to continuously track and control these efforts to ensure alignment with policy objectives without introducing inefficiencies or unnecessary expenditures.

By combining the assurance of alignment with public policies and ongoing control mechanisms, public administrations can ensure that digital public services deliver tangible benefits, remain sustainable, and uphold the principles of accountability, efficiency, and effectiveness. This principle emphasises the need for strategic coherence, resource optimisation, and consistent evaluation to achieve impactful public policy outcomes.

Implications: To ensure alignment with public policy objectives, digital public services must clearly address societal needs and be prioritised based on their value and impact. Resources should be allocated efficiently, focusing on services that provide tangible benefits while avoiding unnecessary expenditures. Public administrations must establish systems to monitor and evaluate the progress, efficiency, and outcomes of these services, ensuring they remain aligned with policy goals. Collaboration across government bodies is essential to maintain coherence, with clear accountability for achieving results. Additionally, digital services should be designed to be adaptable and interoperable, enabling seamless collaboration and flexibility to respond to evolving needs. Finally, active engagement with citizens and businesses is vital to ensure services are relevant and effective in addressing real societal challenges.

Principle source: Assessment of Effectiveness and Efficiency Underlying Principle (12) of the European Interoperability Framework (EIF)

Principle source URL: https://interoperable-europe.ec.europa.eu/collection/nifo-national-interoperability-framework-observatory/glossary/term/assessment-effectiveness-and-efficiency 

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Strategy (Public Policy Cycle)

Interoperability Layer: Legal IoP, Organisational IoP, Technical IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/convergence-on-public-policy-goals-attainment 

Statement: Cost efficiency ensures that digital public services are designed and implemented to deliver high-quality outcomes with minimal resource expenditure, optimising both financial and operational efficiency.

Rationale: Cost efficiency in solution architecture is crucial for maximising the value of public investments while maintaining high standards of service delivery. By focusing on cost efficiency, organisations can reduce waste, lower operational costs, and allocate resources more effectively. This principle encourages the use of cost-effective solutions. Additionally, cost efficiency supports the sustainability of digital public services by ensuring that they remain affordable and sustainable over time.

Implications: To effectively implement Cost efficiency, organisations must adopt practices that optimise resource utilisation and minimise waste. Business processes should include rigorous cost-benefit analyses and financial planning to ensure that resources are allocated efficiently. Technically, solutions must be designed to support automation, data-driven decision-making, and real-time monitoring to enhance operational efficiency. The selection of technical building blocks should prioritise cost-effective options, such as Free and Open Source Software, where appropriate. Continuous monitoring and evaluation are necessary to identify and address inefficiencies, ensuring that cost efficiency is maintained throughout the lifecycle of the solution. 

Principle Source: Designing and Delivering Public Services in the Digital Age

Principle Source URL: https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/designing-and-delivering-public-services-in-the-digital-age_e056ef99-en.html 

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Governance

Interoperability Layer: Technical IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/cost-efficiency

Statement: Public services are transformed into digital public services, while ensuring that no one is left behind. 

Rationale: Making public services digital makes them more accessible, reduces administrative burdens and time and allows faster responses to individuals and organisations. The European Commission has set out a strategy for the digital transformation of its own services, with a preference for digital communication channels. This is also reflected in the EIRA's focus on digital public services, which nonetheless foresees alternative service delivery models besides the primary digital channels.

Implications: Laws and regulations are adapted to remove barriers to digital transformation, enabling the provision of digital services. Public administrations aim to transform existing public services into digital formats, ensuring they can be easily found and accessed by users on their websites. Additionally, digital public services focused on government-to-business interactions are made accessible through automated system interfaces, such as APIs.

Principle Source: C(2022) 4388 final COMMUNICATION TO THE COMMISSION European Commission digital strategy Next generation digital Commission

Principle Source URL: https://commission.europa.eu/publications/european-commission-digital-strategy_en 

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Strategy (Public Policy Cycle)

Interoperability Layer: Organisational IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/digital-first-leave-no-one-behind 

Statement: Public administrations' digital transformation must be based on the identification of cross-organisational needs and the development of internal and external partnerships. 

Rationale: Strong and reliable relationships with other EU institutions and beyond should be fostered to share resources, knowledge, and expertise. These partnerships are essential for staying at the forefront of the latest technological trends and ensuring that digital transformation efforts are aligned with broader strategic goals. By collaborating with various stakeholders, public administrations can leverage diverse perspectives and capabilities, leading to more innovative and effective solutions. Specific approaches in technology, such as user-centric design, data-driven decision-making, and agile methodologies, must be pursued to enhance the responsiveness and adaptability of public services. These collaborative efforts not only improve service delivery but also build a resilient and interconnected digital ecosystem that can better serve the needs of citizens and businesses.

Implications: The creation of Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) and organisational agreements is required to ensure that public institutions are aware of their roles and the roles of others. These agreements should outline the responsibilities, expectations, and contributions of each party, fostering a clear and cooperative framework for collaboration. Public administrations must establish governance structures that facilitate regular communication, coordination, and joint decision-making among partners. This includes setting up cross-organisational teams, holding regular meetings, and using collaborative tools and platforms to share information and resources. Additionally, public bodies should invest in capacity-building initiatives to enhance the skills and competencies of their staff, enabling them to effectively engage in and contribute to digital partnerships. By following these guidelines, public administrations can create strong and sustainable partnerships that drive digital transformation and improve public service delivery.

Principle Source: C(2022) 4388 final COMMUNICATION TO THE COMMISSION European Commission digital strategy Next generation digital Commission

Principle Source URL: https://commission.europa.eu/publications/european-commission-digital-strategy_en

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Strategy (Public Policy Cycle)

Interoperability Layer: Legal IoP, Organisational IoP, Semantic IoP, Technical IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/digital-partnership 

Statement: Digital resilience ensures that digital public services are designed and managed to remain operational, relevant, and adaptable over time, guaranteeing their capacity to withstand and recover from disruptions while maintaining uninterrupted service delivery.

Rationale: Digital resilience is crucial for ensuring the long-term viability, scalability, and efficient resource use of digital public services. It refers to the ability of digital solutions to remain operational and relevant, adapting to changing circumstances and recovering swiftly from disruptions. By focusing on digital resilience, public administrations can ensure that their solutions are environmentally responsible, inclusive, and robust, aligning with broader societal and policy goals. Implementing resilient architectures and practices helps reduce the risk of service interruptions, enhances public trust, and supports the sustainability and scalability of digital public services.

Implications: To effectively implement Digital resilience, public administrations must adopt practices and technologies that ensure the continuous operation and adaptability of digital public services. This includes designing resilient architectures that can withstand and recover from disruptions, ensuring long-term viability and scalability. Solutions must support real-time monitoring and data-driven decision-making to detect and respond to potential issues promptly. Implementing robust backup and recovery systems is essential for maintaining uninterrupted service delivery during crises. Additionally, fostering a culture of resilience and adaptability among staff through training and capacity-building initiatives is crucial. By embedding these practices into digital public services, public administrations can create a more resilient, adaptable, and trustworthy environment, ultimately improving service delivery and public trust.

Principle Source: Digital Resilience of Public Administration in EU and European Interoperability Framework

Principle Source URL: https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/cipr/items/806197/ 

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Implementation

Interoperability Layer: Legal IoP, Organisational IoP, Semantic IoP, Technical IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/digital-resilience 

Statement: Every solution must support sustainability. The sourcing, operation and decommissioning of IT equipment should not indirectly or directly negatively environmental aspects.

Rationale: Climate change is one of society's challenges for the upcoming decades, and public administrations should be aware of it and consider it when planning or implementing digital public services. Therefore, administrations and bodies in charge of developing public services need to consider the proper agreements that allow the reusing of existing services components and infrastructure to ensure the reduction of the environmental impact.

Implications: Public Administrations should prioritise the reuse of existing physical and cloud infrastructures to minimise environmental impact. Solutions must be designed for maximum energy efficiency, reducing power consumption and carbon footprint. Managing the entire lifecycle of IT equipment, from procurement to disposal, with sustainability in mind, including proper recycling, is crucial. Preference should be given to technologies with recognised green certifications. Implementing systems to monitor and report on environmental impact ensures ongoing compliance with sustainability goals.

Principle Source: The European Parliament’s carbon footprint Towards carbon neutrality

Principle Source URL: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjiofaGvLv2AhUThf0HHSXLBZoQFnoECAIQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.europarl.europa.eu%2FRegData%2Fetudes%2FSTUD%2F2020%2F652735%2FIPOL_STU(2020)652735_EN.pdf&usg=AOvVaw2CVqJPeLvN_ianAYdbLyi7 

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Strategy (Public Policy Cycle)

Interoperability Layer: Organisational IoP, Technical IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/environmental-sustainability 

Statement: EU legislation compliance is the property of (national/local) legislation to be fully aligned with European legislation.

Rationale: Member States play a key role in ensuring EU law is implemented correctly and in a timely manner. This is essential for people and businesses to optimally benefit from commonly agreed rules.

Implications: A compliance assessment of EU Directives must be carried out in two stages:
(1) timely and systematic check whether Member States have transposed Union law;
(2) a timely and systematic conformity check of national transposing measures against the relevant Union legislation (correct transposition).

While Member States are responsible for the timely and accurate transposition of directives as well as the correct application of the entire acquis, the Commission has to monitor the Member States’ efforts and ensure that their legislation complies with Union law.

Principle Source: COM(2017) 134 final ANNEX 2 COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS European Interoperability Framework - Implementation Strategy

Principle Source URL: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/resource.html?uri=cellar:2c2f2554-0faf-11e7-8a35-01aa75ed71a1.0017.02/DOC_3&format=PDF 

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Strategy (Public Policy Cycle)

Interoperability Layer: Legal IoP, Organisational IoP, Semantic IoP, Technical IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/eu-legislation-compliance 

Statement: Evidence based public policies are policies designed and periodically reviewed by analysing at experimental evidences and incontrovertible data. 

Rationale: The primary goal is to improve the reliability of advice concerning the efficiency and effectiveness of policy settings and possible alternatives.
Three crucial enabling factors underpin modern conceptions of evidence-based policy (EBP): high-quality information basis on relevant topic areas, cohorts of professionals with skills in data analysis and policy evaluation, and political incentives for utilising evidence-based analysis and advice in governmental decision-making processes.

Implications: Public administrations should foster the creation of public policies by:

•    Promoting the creation and collection of information and knowledge on relevant topics for the administration;

•    Training and ensuring the evolution and aggregation of professionals knowledgable in all domains that public administrations should legislate,  and elaborate policies;

•    Actively promoting the creation of public policies based on the analysis and collection of evidence.

Additionally, public administrations must put in place mechanisms to review ongoing public policies but also the whole public policy life cycle.

Principle Source: Evidence-based policy (EBP)

Principle Source URL: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/242709855_2_Evidence-based_policy_principles_and_requirements 

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Strategy (Public Policy Cycle)

Interoperability Layer: Legal IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/evidence-based-public-policy 

Statement: Findability ensures that digital resources, including data, public services, and solutions, are easily discoverable and accessible for both humans and computers. This principle emphasises the importance of clear identification, rich metadata, and effective search mechanisms.

Rationale: Findability is crucial for maximising the utility and accessibility of digital resources. By implementing globally unique and persistent identifiers, enriched metadata, and robust linking mechanisms, organizations can ensure that their resources are easily discoverable. This approach promotes transparency, efficiency, and user satisfaction by enabling seamless access to information and services. In the context of public administrations, findability enhances the ability to deliver timely and relevant services to citizens, fostering trust and engagement.

Implications: Implementing Findability requires a comprehensive approach that ensures digital resources are easily discoverable and accessible. This involves assigning globally unique and persistent identifiers to all resources, providing rich and standardised metadata to describe them in detail, and ensuring they are indexed in searchable databases. High data quality and adherence to standardised vocabularies and tools are essential to enhance interoperability and reuse. Additionally, integrating metadata and data with digital public services and solutions ensures that citizens can easily find and access the services they need. By adopting these practices, public administrations can improve the accessibility and usability of their digital resources, ultimately enhancing service delivery and citizen satisfaction.

Principle Source: FAIR Principles 

Principle Source URL: https://www.go-fair.org/fair-principles/ 

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Implementation

Interoperability Layer: Semantic IoP, Technical IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/findability 

Statement: A full life cycle cost of ownership (including retirement costs) should form part of the business case.

Rationale: Public administrations are the first link in the chain and need to set an example for society and businesses by managing the entire life cycle of technology products. Therefore, when planning and designing public services, this aspect needs to be included from design and implementation to retirement. Such care for the full ICT life cycle comes at a critical stage for sustainable development, amplified by the excess use of resources (economic, natural, etc.). Considering this, public administrations need to establish and use relevant policies that help ensure and control sustainability at all levels. 

Implications: When implementing and retiring elements related to the provision of digital public services, public administrations shall include and create policies that ensure the lifecycle of infrastructures, applications services and equipment is considered and extended to ensure the minimum waste in terms of sustainability.

An example regarding this last topic is, for instance, the application of policies to ensure that no additional costs (economic, social and environmental) rise when renewing the computer fleet.

Principle Source: How the EU wants to achieve a circular economy by 2050 in News European Parliament

Principle Source URL: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/society/20210128STO96607/how-the-eu-wants-to-achieve-a-circular-economy-by-2050 

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Governance

Interoperability Layer: Organisational IoP, Semantic IoP, Technical IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/ICT-management-from-cradle-to-grave 

Statement: Innovation entails rethinking organisations and processes and changing behaviour so that public services are delivered more efficiently to people.  

Rationale: Implemented well, eGovernment enables citizens, enterprises and organisations to carry out their business with the government more easily, more quickly and at a lower cost.

Investing in research and innovation is investing in Europe’s future. It helps us to compete globally and preserve our unique social model. It improves the daily lives of millions of people here in Europe and around the world, helping to solve some of our biggest societal challenges.

Implications: Innovation implies iterative and active thinking in public administrations and digital public services delivery. This includes several aspects and different layers.

At the organisational layer, monitoring and looking for strategies to create new public services according to new technologies.

At the technical level, implementing new approaches and technologies aligned with public policies and their objectives.

Principle Source: OPEN EUROPE Policies, Reforms and Achievements in EI Science and Innovation 2014-2019

Principle Source URL: https://european-union.europa.eu/priorities-and-actions/actions-topic/research-and-innovation_en 

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Strategy (Public Policy Cycle)

Interoperability Layer: Organisational IoP, Technical IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/innovation 

Statement: Users have an integrated experience of digital public services.

Rationale: Users should be optimally supported in their tasks without being burdened by the complexities of multiple organisations, processes, or applications. This principle guides the analysis and design of architectural solutions to enhance the user experience when accessing and using digital public services. 

Implications: Users of digital public services interact with a unified interface that seamlessly supports their tasks, creating the impression of a single cohesive application. This approach ensures that users are not confronted with redundant steps and only need to log in once to complete their tasks. By encapsulating internal complexities and preventing them from being exposed to users, the system maintains a streamlined and efficient user experience, reinforcing the perception of a singular, integrated solution.

Principle Source: eID Building Block of DIGITAL Europe

Principle Source URL: https://ec.europa.eu/digital-building-blocks/sites/display/DIGITAL/What+is+eID 

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Governance

Interoperability Layer: Technical IoP, Organisational IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/integrated-horizontal-user-experience 

Statement: Integrity ensures that data and digital public services are accurate, consistent, and trustworthy throughout their lifecycle. This principle emphasises the importance of maintaining the reliability and authenticity of information and services provided by public administrations.

Rationale: Integrity is fundamental to the trustworthiness and effectiveness of data-driven services and digital public solutions. Ensuring data integrity involves implementing controls that prevent unauthorised alterations, corruption, or loss of data. This principle supports informed decision-making, enhances operational efficiency, and maintains public trust. By embedding integrity controls into the design and implementation of digital public services, organisations can safeguard the accuracy and reliability of their information, thereby ensuring that services are delivered effectively and securely. This approach also helps in complying with legal and regulatory requirements, reducing the risk of data breaches and other security incidents.

Implications: Implementing integrity in digital public services requires a comprehensive approach that ensures data remains accurate, consistent, and unaltered throughout its lifecycle. This involves adapting the design of data-driven services to incorporate robust integrity controls, such as data validation and verification processes, to maintain data accuracy and consistency. Strict access controls must be implemented to prevent unauthorised modifications, ensuring that only authorised personnel can alter data. Additionally, encryption techniques should be used to protect data from unauthorised access and tampering. Maintaining detailed audit trails is essential for tracking data changes and ensuring accountability. Regular monitoring and audits are necessary to detect and address any integrity issues promptly. Furthermore, adhering to relevant standards and regulations is crucial to ensure data integrity and security. By adopting these measures, public administrations can enhance the reliability and trustworthiness of their digital services, ultimately improving service delivery and maintaining public trust.

Principle Source: Security and Privacy Underlying Principle (8) of the European Interoperability Framework (EIF)

Principle Source URL: https://interoperable-europe.ec.europa.eu/collection/nifo-national-interoperability-framework-observatory/2-underlying-principles-european-public-services#2.4 

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Governance

Interoperability Layer: Semantic IoP, Technical IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/integrated-horizontal-user-experience

Statement: Interoperability ensures that systems, services, and organisations can work together seamlessly across different domains and borders, safeguarding European security, strategic assets, and interests while respecting European values and requirements.

Rationale: Interoperability allows European Institutions and Administrations to collaborate effectively, ensuring the holistic development of European society. By promoting interoperability, organisations can avoid silos, reduce duplication, and enhance efficiency. This principle supports the seamless exchange of data and services across different legal, organisational, semantic, and technical frameworks, fostering innovation and improving public service delivery. Interoperability is crucial for achieving the goals of the Interoperable Europe Act, which aims to create a unified digital space that enhances the mobility of citizens and businesses across the EU. Moreover, considering interoperability at all levels (legal, organisational, semantic, and technical), is a key approach. Interoperability by design ensures that systems and services are built with interoperability as a core requirement, facilitating easier integration and collaboration.

Implications: Organisations must ensure that their systems and services comply with relevant legal frameworks and facilitate cross-border cooperation, aligning with EU regulations such as the GDPR and the Interoperable Europe Act. Effective governance structures must be established to support interoperability, including creating multidisciplinary teams, involving relevant stakeholders, and fostering a culture of collaboration. Data and services must be described using standardised vocabularies and ontologies to ensure consistent interpretation across different systems. This involves using controlled vocabularies, publishing metadata in machine-readable formats, and ensuring that data models are aligned with international standards. Systems must be designed to support the seamless exchange of data and services by adopting open standards and protocols, ensuring data integrity and security, and implementing robust data management practices. Technical solutions should be scalable, flexible, and capable of integrating with other systems. By addressing these aspects and embedding interoperability by design, organisations can create interoperable systems that enhance the efficiency, effectiveness, and resilience of public services across Europe.

Principle Source: Regulation (EU) 2024/903 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 March 2024 laying down measures for a high level of public sector interoperability across the Union (Interoperable Europe Act)

Principle Source URL: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32024R0903 

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Governance

Interoperability Layer: Legal IoP, Organisational IoP, Semantic IoP, Technical IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/interoperability 

Statement: A Level playing field ensures that all participants have equal opportunities to collaborate and participate eliminating monopolistic barriers to entry across all layers of digital public services creation.

Rationale: Implementing a Level playing field in solution architecture is essential for fostering a fair and competitive environment. It prevents monopolistic situations where a few entities dominate due to their control over vast amounts of resources, including data, infrastructure, and digital services. By ensuring that new entrants face no insurmountable barriers, it encourages innovation and improves the overall quality of services. This principle is pivotal for creating a fair digital public services ecosystem, where collaboration and participation are based on service excellence rather than resource control, ultimately benefiting consumers and promoting a healthy market. For example, public administrations at different levels (State, Regions, Local) should be able to collaborate and join efforts in new services without being limited by their varying levels of resources. Another example, when procuring any kind of digital public service solutions, public administrations should provide as much information as possible to all participants, ensuring that all possible candidates have access to the same information, so all play by the same set of rules resulting in formal equality of opportunity. 

Implications: To establish a Level playing field, organisations must adopt policies and practices that promote accessibility and interoperability across all layers of digital public services. Business processes should be designed to ensure that resources are shared fairly and transparently, with clear guidelines to prevent monopolistic practices. Technically, solutions must support open standards and APIs to facilitate resource exchange and ensure that governance frameworks are in place to manage access and usage equitably. Additionally, technical agreements and mechanisms must address the needs and expectations for infrastructure, ensuring that infrastructure resources are shared, reused, and utilised effectively, without implying unfair situations between participants that could extend to the service's end users. Additionally, continuous monitoring and enforcement mechanisms are necessary to maintain a fair competitive landscape and address any emerging monopolistic tendencies. Collaboration and reuse should be encouraged to ensure that all participants can contribute effectively, regardless of their resource levels.

Principle Source: Design Principles for Data Spaces Position Paper

Principle Source URL: https://design-principles-for-data-spaces.org/ 

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Strategy (Public Policy Cycle)

Interoperability Layer: Organisational IoP, Technical IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/level-playing-field 

Statement: Loose coupling ensures that data sharing and integration between organisations are facilitated through a collection of interoperable solutions, rather than a monolithic centralised IT system. This approach adheres to unified agreements across functional, technical, operational, legal, and economic dimensions, allowing organisations to function with minimal dependency on each other.

Rationale: Implementing Loose coupling fosters flexibility, resilience, and innovation. Avoiding reliance on a single centralised system reduces the risk of single points of failure and enhances the system's ability to adapt to changing requirements. This approach supports interoperability, portability, and findability, ensuring that data can be easily shared and accessed across different systems and platforms. Additionally, it enhances security, privacy, and trustworthiness by distributing data and control, making it harder for malicious actors to compromise the entire system. Loose coupling also enables faster implementation and change of digital public services by minimising dependencies between organisations. For example, well-defined public APIs (based on API guidelines) and public data models that do not expose internal implementation details are crucial for maintaining flexibility and security while ensuring seamless integration and accessibility.

Implications: To effectively implement Loose coupling, organisations must adopt interoperable solutions that comply with unified agreements across all relevant dimensions. Business processes should be designed to support decentralised data sharing, including clear guidelines for interoperability, portability, and findability. Technically, solutions must be built to integrate seamlessly with other systems, using open standards and well-defined APIs. These APIs should follow established guidelines to ensure consistency, security, and ease of integration. Security and privacy measures must be robust, ensuring that data is protected across all nodes of the infrastructure. Additionally, continuous monitoring and governance frameworks are necessary to maintain compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and to ensure the trustworthiness of the system. Proper organisational agreements should be established to ensure the implementation of digital public services without hampering any changes or modifications. At the technical level, this can be achieved by reusing existing solutions or components that ensure interoperability between services without including dependencies between them. Furthermore, adopting microservices architecture can enhance loose coupling by allowing independent deployment and scaling of services. Implementing asynchronous communication methods, such as message queues or event-driven architectures, can further decouple components, improving system resilience and flexibility. Lastly, maintaining comprehensive documentation and versioning of APIs is crucial to support ongoing development and integration efforts.

Principle Source: Design Principles for Data Spaces Position Paper

Principle Source URL: https://design-principles-for-data-spaces.org/  

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Implementation

Interoperability Layer: Organisational IoP, Semantic IoP, Technical IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/loose-coupling 

Statement: Maintainability for digital public services refers to the ease with which IT solutions, service and organisational processes can be updated, corrected, and improved over time to ensure the service remains functional, efficient and up to date with the needs of the service's users.

Rationale: Maintainability for digital public services is crucial as it ensures they can continue to efficiently meet the evolving needs of users, adapt to technological advancements, and new organisational practices, and comply with changing regulations over time. Maintainability also ensures that investments in time, cost and effort to put in place the initial service offering are not repeated but rather capitalised upon when service evolution is required.

Implications: Digital public services that strive for Maintainability need to be conceived for this purpose from their initial design and implementation. Practices and methodologies need to be put in place to ensure that all elements that constitute the service, including IT solutions, services and organisational processes, are transparent, well-documented, and flexible to accommodate change.

Principle Source: Designing and Delivering Public Services in the Digital Age

Principle Source URL: https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/designing-and-delivering-public-services-in-the-digital-age_e056ef99-en.html 

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Governance

Interoperability Layer: Technical IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/maintainability 

Statement: Measurability ensures that the utility and performance of a solution or service can be quantified and assessed through established metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs).

Rationale: Adhering or implementing Measurability allows organisations to objectively evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of their solutions and services. By establishing clear metrics and KPIs, businesses can track progress, identify areas for improvement, and make data-driven decisions. This principle supports transparency and accountability, ensuring that all stakeholders have a clear understanding of the value being delivered. Additionally, it facilitates continuous improvement by providing a framework for regular performance assessments and adjustments. Measuring the performance and utility of the different components of a digital public service ensures that each part contributes effectively to the overall goals, enhancing the service's overall impact and value.

Implications: Organisations must define specific, measurable KPIs that align with their strategic goals and objectives. Regular performance reviews and assessments should be conducted to ensure that the solutions and services are meeting the established KPIs. On the technical side, systems and tools must be implemented to collect, analyse, and report on the defined KPIs. Continuous monitoring and reporting mechanisms should be established to provide real-time insights into performance and utility.

Principle Source: Designing and Delivering Public Services in the Digital Age

Principle Source URL: https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/designing-and-delivering-public-services-in-the-digital-age_e056ef99-en.html 

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Implementation

Interoperability Layer: Technical IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/measurability 

Statement: European digital public services are multilingual.

Rationale: European public services can potentially be used by anyone in any Member State. So Multilingualism needs to be carefully considered when designing them. Citizens across Europe often have problems accessing and using digital public services if these are not available in the languages they speak.

Implications: Multilingualism is taken into account at all levels in the design of European digital public services, e.g. also in documentation and systems interfaces. 
A balance needs to be found between the expectations of citizens and businesses to be served in their own language(s) or their preferred language(s) and the ability of Member States’ public administrations to offer services in all official EU languages.
A suitable balance could be that European public services are available in the languages of the expected end-users, i.e. the number of languages is decided on the basis of users’ needs, such as the level to which the service is critical for the implementation of the digital single market or national policies, or the size of the relevant audience.

Principle Source: Multilingualism Underlying Principle (9) of the European Interoperability Framework (EIF)

Principle Source URL: https://interoperable-europe.ec.europa.eu/collection/nifo-national-interoperability-framework-observatory/glossary/term/multilingualism 

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Governance

Interoperability Layer: Legal IoP, Organisational IoP, Technical IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/multilingualism 

Statement: Citizens and businesses provide data to public administrations only once.

Rationale: Requesting the data multiple times leads to an unnecessary administrative burden for citizens and businesses. It also leads to multiple administrations of the same data, with a high risk of inconsistency and low data quality. It is essential that the data that public administrations use is of good quality, in order to prevent errors and delays in processes and provide high-quality services. 

Implications: There is a central metadata administration of all the datasets that public administration bodies have available for reuse.
Public administration bodies first determine whether specific data elements are available for reuse before they decide to collect them.
Data that can be reused from other public administrations are not requested from citizens or businesses but simply referred to.

Principle Source: Once Only Principle of DIGITAL Europe

Principle Source URL: https://ec.europa.eu/cefdigital/wiki/display/CEFDIGITAL/Once+Only+Principle 

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Governance

Interoperability Layer: Legal IoP, Organisational IoP, Semantic IoP, Technical IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/once-only 

Statement: In the context of interoperable public services, the concept of Openness mainly relates to data, specifications and software.

Rationale: This principle is based on three pillars: the openness of public administration's data, the openness of the software used and implemented and the openness of standards and specifications used to develop digital public services. 

Implications: Refers to the idea that all public data should be freely available for use and reuse by others unless restrictions apply e.g. for the protection of personal data, confidentiality, or intellectual property rights.

Also, refers to ensuring a level playing field for open-source software and demonstrating active and fair consideration of using open-source software, taking into account the total cost of ownership of the solution.

And last but not least, give preference to open specifications, taking due account of the coverage of functional needs, maturity and market support and innovation.

Principle Source: Openness Underlying Principle (2) of the European Interoperability Framework (EIF)

Principle Source URL: https://interoperable-europe.ec.europa.eu/collection/nifo-national-interoperability-framework-observatory/2-underlying-principles-european-public-services#2.3 

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Implementation

Interoperability Layer: Organisational IoP, Semantic IoP, Technical IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/openness 

Statement: Operational excellence ensures that all processes and systems are designed and managed to achieve consistent, efficient and high-quality outcomes, fostering continuous improvement and value delivery. 

Rationale: Implementing Digital Public Services with an operational excellence approach is crucial to ensure performance and citizen satisfaction. This principle has as its basis the continuous improvement, efficiency and quality combined with a user-centric approach. Operational excellence helps align processes with strategic goals, ensuring that operations are not only effective but also adaptable to changing requirements. Ultimately, operational excellence drives competitive advantage and long-term success by embedding a culture of excellence and innovation.

Implications: To effectively implement operational excellence, organisations must adopt a systematic approach to process management and improvement. Business processes should be designed to be efficient, standardised, and continuously monitored for performance. Technically, solutions must support automation, data-driven decision-making, and real-time monitoring to ensure optimal performance.

Principle Source: André M. Carvalho, Paulo Sampaio, Eric Rebentisch, Hugh McManus, João Álvaro Carvalho & Pedro Saraiva (2023) Operational excellence, organizational culture, and agility: bridging the gap between quality and adaptability, Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, 34:11 12, 1598-1628, DOI: 10.1080/14783363.2023.2191844

Principle Source URL: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/369633137_Operational_excellence_organizational_culture_and_agility_bridging_the_gap_between_quality_and_adaptability 

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Governance

Interoperability Layer: Organisational IoP, Technical IoP, Semantic IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/operational-excellence 

Statement: Portability ensures that data, digital public services, and solutions can be easily transferred, reused, and integrated across different systems and platforms, supporting the seamless movement and interoperability within the digital single market.

Rationale: Portability provides significant benefits for public administrations and citizens. The functioning of the digital single market requires that data, services, and solutions be easily transferable among different systems to avoid lock-in and support the free movement of digital assets. This principle ensures that public administrations can efficiently reuse existing digital solutions, enhancing interoperability and reducing costs associated with developing new systems. Portability is particularly crucial in cross-border scenarios, where the ability to move and reuse data and services across different jurisdictions is essential for fostering collaboration and innovation. By ensuring portability, public administrations can provide more flexible, efficient, and user-centric services, ultimately improving the overall quality of public service delivery.

Implications: Implementing the principle of Portability requires both business and technical considerations. This involves adopting open and standard protocols and formats to make data and services accessible outside their original applications. Public administrations must establish policies and frameworks that support the seamless transfer and integration of digital assets across different systems and platforms. Technically, systems must be designed to support interoperability with robust data management practices and secure infrastructures that facilitate the easy movement of data and services. Additionally, public bodies should promote the use of common standards and best practices to ensure that digital solutions can be easily adapted and reused in different contexts. By following these guidelines, public administrations can achieve a more efficient, flexible, and interoperable digital ecosystem, enhancing the overall effectiveness of public services.

Principle Source: Technological neutrality and data portability Underlying Principle (5) of the European Interoperability Framework (EIF)

Principle Source URL: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/resource.html?uri=cellar:2c2f2554-0faf-11e7-8a35-01aa75ed71a1.0017.02/DOC_1&format=PDF 

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Strategy (Public Policy Cycle)

Interoperability Layer: Legal IoP, Semantic IoP, Technical IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/portability 

Statement: Records are preserved and made long-term accessible.

Rationale: Legislation requires that decisions and data are stored and can be accessed for a specified time. This includes all data and information in the electronic form held by public administrations for the purpose of documenting procedures and decisions. The goal is to ensure that records and other forms of information keep their legibility, reliability and integrity and can be accessed as long as needed subject to security and privacy provisions.

Implications: Records are accompanied by metadata that supports records management and archiving, and they are stored in formats that ensure long-term accessibility, including the preservation of associated electronic signatures or seals. During their retention period, records are preserved and selected for deletion afterward. They are converted to recent standard formats while also keeping the original version in its original format. When old media become obsolete, records are converted to new media as necessary. Additionally, records that are not strictly national are governed by an appropriate preservation policy to address any difficulties arising from the use of relevant information under different jurisdictions.

Principle Source: Preservation of information Underlying Principle (12) of the European Interoperability Framework (EIF)

Principle Source URL: https://interoperable-europe.ec.europa.eu/collection/nifo-national-interoperability-framework-observatory/2-underlying-principles-european-public-services#2.12 

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Implementation

Interoperability Layer: Organisational IoP, Semantic IoP, Technical IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/preservation-of-information 

Statement: Privacy signifies the agreement to the processing of personal data related to an individual, ensuring that personal data is handled with respect and in compliance with legal frameworks.

Rationale: Privacy refers to any freely given, specific, informed, and unambiguous indication of the data subject's wishes by which they, through a statement or clear affirmative action, signify agreement to the processing of personal data relating to them. This principle ensures that the vast amounts of citizens' personal data held and processed by public bodies, solutions, and public services are protected by complying with the applicable legal framework, such as the GDPR. In the context of artificial intelligence, privacy is crucial to prevent misuse of personal data and to maintain trust in AI systems. Ensuring privacy compliance not only protects individuals' rights but also enhances the credibility and reliability of digital solutions and public services. 

Implications: Public bodies and administrations must implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to ensure and demonstrate that processing is performed according to the GDPR. These measures should be regularly reviewed and updated as necessary. Public administrations must establish data protection policies and procedures, conduct regular privacy impact assessments, and ensure that all staff are trained on data protection principles. They should also adopt privacy-by-design principles, integrating privacy considerations into the development and deployment of systems, including AI-related solutions. This involves using robust data anonymisation techniques, ensuring transparency in data processing activities, and implementing secure data management practices. Additionally, public bodies must encourage the establishment of data protection certification mechanisms and data protection seals and marks to demonstrate compliance. All interoperability layers within public services must consider and foresee the implementation of mechanisms to achieve GDPR compliance, ensuring that data is protected across all systems and processes. Additionally, Public bodies should also consider the use of pseudonymity techniques to protect individuals' identities in certain cases, ensuring that personal data is processed in a manner that prevents direct identification while still allowing for necessary data analysis and processing.

Principle Source: Security and Privacy Underlying Principle (8) of the European Interoperability Framework (EIF)

Principle Source URL: https://interoperable-europe.ec.europa.eu/collection/nifo-national-interoperability-framework-observatory/2-underlying-principles-european-public-services#2.4 

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Implementation

Interoperability Layer: Legal IoP, Organisational IoP, Semantic IoP, Technical IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/privacy 

Statement: Proactiveness refers to proactive services, which are public services that a public institution delivers following its own initiatives.

Rationale: European institutions and public administrations throughout Europe are reference actors and roles that can lead the environment on digital public services and the use of available data for the creation of innovative services, taking as a basis life, business events and circumstances.

There is an increasing amount of data from citizens, businesses and other stakeholders that European institutions can leverage to think and create digital public services according to users' needs (citizens or businesses).

Implications: For the implementation of Proactiveness in digital public services, there are implications at various levels. At the legal level, it is essential to ensure that data is treated and managed in accordance with relevant legal clauses. At the organisational level, digital capabilities must be instantiated by services aligned with user needs and governed by agreements between parties to ensure data sovereignty. Legal interoperability requires that data is properly described and adheres to current approaches for semantic interoperability. At the technical level, it is crucial to ensure that appropriate technical applications and technology services are available to reuse and deliver these services effectively.

Principle Source: Interoperable Europe Portal

Principle Source URL: https://interoperable-europe.ec.europa.eu/ 

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Strategy (Public Policy Cycle)

Interoperability Layer: Legal IoP, Organisational IoP, Technical IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/proactiveness 

Statement: Limitation to the necessary actions to achieve public administrations objectives, ensuring the delivery with appropriate measures and not impossing excessive burdens. 

Rationale: Implementing the Proportionality principle when developing and providing solutions ensures that actions and measures are balanced and justified, avoiding unnecessary complexity and resource expenditure. This principle helps to maintain a focus on efficiency and effectiveness, ensuring that solutions are designed to meet objectives without overstepping or imposing undue burdens on stakeholders. By adhering to proportionality, organisations can optimise resource allocation and enhance the sustainability of public services. Additionally, limiting access to information ensures that public bodies only access data that is necessary and within their governance, protecting privacy and data integrity.

Implications: To effectively implement Proportionality, organisations must conduct thorough impact assessments to ensure that measures are necessary and appropriate. Business processes should include regular reviews and evaluations to assess the proportionality of actions taken. Technically, solutions must be designed to be scalable and adaptable, allowing for adjustments based on ongoing assessments. Clear guidelines and criteria should be established to determine the necessity and appropriateness of measures, ensuring that they align with the overall objectives and do not impose excessive burdens. Public bodies must also ensure that access to information is justified and limited to data within their control or governance.

Principle Source: Subsidiarity and proportionality Underlying Principle (1) of the European Interoperability Framework (EIF) 

Principle Source URL: https://interoperable-europe.ec.europa.eu/collection/nifo-national-interoperability-framework-observatory/2-underlying-principles-european-public-services#2.2 

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Strategy (Public Policy Cycle)

Interoperability Layer: Legal IoP, Organisational IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/proportionality 

Statement: Public value maximisation ensures that public services and solutions are designed and managed to deliver the greatest possible value to society, leveraging efficiency, collaboration, and accountability.

Rationale: Public value maximisation is crucial for aligning public services with societal needs and expectations. Under New Public Management (NPM), public value is maximised by improving service delivery efficiency and effectiveness through market-oriented reforms and performance measurement. New Public Governance (NPG) maximises public value by fostering collaboration, networks, and partnerships among various stakeholders, leveraging collective efforts to address complex societal issues. The Neo-Weberian State (NWS) enhances public value by modernising the state, ensuring professional, efficient, and citizen-friendly public institutions. By integrating these approaches, public value maximisation promotes a holistic and inclusive strategy for delivering high-quality public services that are responsive, efficient, and equitable.

Implications: To effectively implement Public value maximisation, organisations must adopt a multi-faceted approach that incorporates efficiency, collaboration, and accountability. Business processes should be designed to optimise resource utilisation, foster stakeholder engagement, and ensure transparency and accountability. Technically, solutions must support data-driven decision-making, real-time monitoring, and performance measurement to enhance efficiency. Collaborative platforms and networks should be established to facilitate stakeholder participation and the co-creation of public services. Continuous training and capacity-building initiatives are essential to equip public servants with the skills needed to deliver high-quality services. Legal and regulatory frameworks should be established to support and enforce public value maximisation, ensuring that public services are aligned with societal needs and expectations.

Principle Source: European Commission – Thematic Factsheet on Quality of Public Administration

Principle Source URL: https://commission.europa.eu/system/files/2018-06/european-semester_thematic-factsheet_quality-public-administration_en_0.pdf 

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Strategy (Public Policy Cycle)

Interoperability Layer: Legal IoP, Organisational IoP, Semantic IoP, Technical IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/public-value-maximisation 

Statement: The assimilation, alignment and use of Reference architecture ensure that digital public services are designed and implemented based on relevant methodologies and frameworks from the inception phase. It helps to ensure the alignement of digital public services with relevant user needs covering layers of the service and ensuring its reuse and scalability. 

Rationale: The use of Reference architecture in digital public service creation is crucial for ensuring consistency, reliability, and quality across digital public services. Reference architectures provide a standardised framework that guides the design and implementation of systems, ensuring they align with best practices and established standards. This approach helps to streamline development processes, reduce complexity, and enhance the interoperability of different systems. By adhering to reference architectures, organisations can ensure that their solutions are scalable, reusable, and capable of meeting diverse user needs. Additionally, reference architectures support the alignment of digital public services with strategic goals and regulatory requirements, fostering a cohesive and efficient digital ecosystem.

Implications: To effectively implement Reference architecture, organisations must adopt and align with relevant reference architectures from the inception phase of digital public service design. Business processes should include rigorous assessments to ensure alignment with selected reference architectures, such as the European Interoperability Reference Architecture (EIRA). Technically, solutions must be designed to support interoperability and scalability, incorporating modular and reusable components. Continuous monitoring and evaluation are necessary to maintain alignment with reference architectures and address any emerging issues. Additionally, fostering a culture of adherence to reference architectures and best practices is essential to ensure that all stakeholders understand and commit to the principle. Training and capacity-building initiatives should be implemented to equip staff with the knowledge and skills needed to apply reference architectures effectively. The principle of "Conformance chain" further reinforces this by requiring that all stages of digital public service development conform to the selected reference architectures, ensuring consistency and reliability.

Principle Source: European Interoperability Reference Architecture (EIRA)

Principle Source URL: https://interoperable-europe.ec.europa.eu/collection/european-interoperability-reference-architecture-eira/solution/eira 

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Governance

Interoperability Layer: Legal IoP,  Organisational IoP, Semantic IoP, Technical IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/reference-architecture 

Statement: Existing digital systems are reused, before deciding upon buying or even building them.

Rationale: Reusing existing systems, services, and solutions can lead to substantial cost savings, as the expenses associated with developing and maintaining new systems are often much higher than anticipated. This principle ensures that public administrations make efficient use of resources by leveraging existing investments and avoiding unnecessary duplication. Additionally, reusing proven solutions can enhance the reliability and interoperability of public services, as these systems have already been tested and validated in real-world scenarios. By prioritising reuse, public administrations can focus on optimising and integrating existing solutions to meet their needs, fostering innovation and improving service delivery without incurring the high costs and risks associated with building new systems from scratch.

Implications: Implementing the principle of "Reuse, before buy, before build" requires both business and technical considerations. Public bodies and administrations must conduct thorough assessments of existing systems, services, and solutions to determine their suitability for reuse. This involves evaluating the functionality, scalability, and interoperability of these systems to ensure they can meet current and future requirements. When existing solutions are not sufficient, the next step is to consider purchasing commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) solutions that can be customised to fit specific needs. Building new systems should only be considered as a last resort when no existing solutions can fulfil essential requirements.

From a technical perspective, public administrations must establish robust frameworks for evaluating and integrating existing systems. This includes adopting open standards and protocols to ensure interoperability, implementing secure data management practices, and maintaining comprehensive documentation to facilitate the reuse of systems. Additionally, public bodies should promote a culture of collaboration and knowledge sharing, encouraging the reuse of solutions across different departments and agencies. By following these guidelines, public administrations can achieve cost-effective, sustainable, and efficient service delivery, while minimising the risks and costs associated with developing new systems.

Principle Source: Reusability Underlying Principle (4) of the European Interoperability Framework (EIF)

Principle Source URL: https://interoperable-europe.ec.europa.eu/collection/nifo-national-interoperability-framework-observatory/glossary/term/reusability  

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Governance

Interoperability Layer: Organisational IoP, Semantic IoP, Technical IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/reuse-before-buy-before-build 

Statement: Scalability is the measure of a system’s ability to increase or decrease in performance and cost in response to changes in application and system processing demands.

Rationale: Scalability is crucial for ensuring that systems can efficiently handle growth in demand, whether due to increased traffic, data volume, or user activity. It supports business continuity enabling failure recovery and adaptation to unforeseen changes. Furthermore scalability ensures regulation compliance in cases where resiliency and the gracefully handling of increased demand are key aspects in the delivery of digital public services.

Implications: Achieving Scalability involves leveraging modern and flexible infrastructure to accommodate fluctuations in user needs or system processing demands, ensuring continuity and efficiency even under growing workloads or during periods of high demand. Scalable public services should also be designed to enable reuse and interoperability, allowing for the efficient adaptation and expansion of solutions across borders and contexts.

Principle Source: Guidelines for implementing Scalability and Replicability Assessment (SRA) methodology

Principle Source URL: https://bridge-smart-grid-storage-systems-digital-projects.ec.europa.eu/sites/default/files/bridge-reports/guidelines%20for%20implementing%20the%20prescribed%20technology-MJ0322251ENN.pdf  

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Implementation

Interoperability Layer: Technical IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/scalability 

Statement: Security by Design refers to the principle that security should be integrated into the design and development of IT systems and digital public services from the outset. This approach ensures that security measures are an inherent part of the system, rather than being added as an afterthought.

Rationale: Security by design encompasses the protection of valuable assets by embedding security protocols throughout the entire lifecycle of IT systems and digital public services. This principle ensures that data and technology are safeguarded within organisational boundaries, considering asset ownership. By securing access to data assets and controlling their dissemination, organisations can protect sensitive information and maintain trust. This proactive approach minimises vulnerabilities, reduces long-term costs, and ensures compliance with regulatory requirements. Ultimately, Security by Design fosters a robust security posture that adapts to evolving threats and enhances overall system resilience.

Implications: Implementing Security by design implies a comprehensive and systematic approach to security across all stages of creating digital public services, from design to implementation. This approach has holistic implications across multiple layers: (I) Legal Level: Ensures compliance with data protection regulations and legal standards; (II) Organizational Level: Promotes a culture of security awareness and responsibility among all stakeholders; (III) Technical Level: Involves integrating security features such as encryption, access controls, and real-time monitoring into the system architecture. It also supports automation and data-driven decision-making to enhance security measures.

Principle Source: Security and Privacy Underlying Principle (8) of the European Interoperability Framework (EIF)

Principle Source URL: https://interoperable-europe.ec.europa.eu/collection/nifo-national-interoperability-framework-observatory/2-underlying-principles-european-public-services#2.4  

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Implementation

Interoperability Layer: Legal IoP, Organisational IoP, Technical IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/security-by-design  

Statement: Separation of concerns ensures that each building block of a solution or service has a specific scope in terms of concern and capabilities, avoiding the replication of functionalities across different components.

Rationale: Implementing the principle of Separation of concerns in solutions and service development and provision is crucial for enhancing clarity, maintainability, and scalability. By clearly defining the scope and responsibilities of each component, this principle helps to reduce complexity and improve the manageability of the system. It ensures that each building block can be developed, tested, and maintained independently, leading to more modular and flexible solutions. This approach also facilitates better collaboration among teams, as responsibilities and interfaces are clearly defined, reducing the risk of overlapping functionalities and dependencies.

Implications: To effectively implement Separation of concerns, organisations must adopt a modular approach to design and development, ensuring that each component has a well-defined scope and set of responsibilities. Business processes should include clear guidelines for defining and documenting the boundaries and interfaces of each building block. Technically, solutions must be designed to support modularity and interoperability, with components that can be easily integrated and replaced without affecting the overall system. Continuous monitoring and evaluation are necessary to ensure that the separation of concerns is maintained throughout the lifecycle of the solution. Additionally, fostering a culture of collaboration and communication is essential to ensure that all stakeholders understand and adhere to the principle.

Principle Source: Applying the principle of separation of concerns in software development

Principle Source URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780080362366500084  

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Implementation

Interoperability Layer: Organisational IoP, Technical IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/separation-of-concerns 

Statement: Service orientation is a way of thinking in terms of services and service-based development and the outcomes of services.

Rationale: Being user-centred or remaining "user-led," is possible with a service-oriented strategy. It entails offering services that employ the best technological solutions to provide better results. By making this change, the organization will put user demands and goals at the centre of its vision, culture, and operations. After then, make sure that everyone supports it and owns it so that decisions and technology are driven by user demands.

A service-oriented strategy entails developing an IT platform made up of numerous systems, each one tailored to carry out particular tasks. You can change one aspect of a system's functionality with a tech stack made up of separate components without changing the operation of the entire system. Certain components can be digitalized more quickly because of this function fragmentation, which also offers a distribution strategy that allows for independently distributed functions. Communication with external programs is also made possible by separate systems where each software tool is designed to carry out a specific task using a well-defined interface.

There are a variety of technologies that can be applied to this service orientation approach such as SOAP, REST API and GraphQL. 

Implications: At the organisational level, public administrations need to establish the proper agreements that allow collaboration and common mechanisms to provide relevant information through the desired Service Oriented Architecture.

At the technical level, the organisations in charge of implementing and delivery of digital public services will need to determine which is the best approach to fit their needs. There are different approaches such as SAP, RESTApi or GraphQL, taking into account the relevant aspects of the services, the organisation responsible for the service should select the more sustainable and efficient way of implementing the SOA approach. 

Principle Source: Open Group

Principle Source URL: https://web.archive.org/web/20160819141303/http://opengroup.org/soa/source-book/soa/soa.htm  

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Implementation

Interoperability Layer: Organisational IoP, Technical IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/service-orientation  

Statement: The selected solution/approach is the best possible aligned with the requirements.

Rationale: Ensuring the chosen solution meets the specific requirements, and therefore the needs and expectations of the public services is crucial to ensure efficient and effective service provision. By carefully selecting the appropriate solution, organisations can achieve optimal performance, cost-efficiency, and alignment with their strategic goals. This principle helps avoid mismatches between requirements and solutions, which can lead to inefficiencies, increased costs, and project failures. Ensuring a proper fit enhances the overall effectiveness and success of the solution.

Implications: To effectively implement the Solution fit principle, organisations must conduct thorough requirement analysis and ensure that the selected solution addresses all relevant levels—organisational, semantic, and technical. Business processes should include rigorous evaluation and selection criteria to match solutions with requirements accurately. Technically, solutions must be assessed for compatibility, scalability, and alignment with existing systems and standards. Continuous monitoring and evaluation are necessary to ensure that the solution remains fit for purpose as requirements evolve.

Principle Source: Shrivastava, S., & Srivastav, N. (2020). Solutions Architect's Handbook. Packt Publishing. And the Public Procurement Directive (Directive 2014/24/EU). 

Principle Source URL: https://openlibrary.org/books/OL37329774M/Solutions_Architect%27s_Handbook_-_Second_Edition  

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Implementation

Interoperability Layer: Legal IoP,  Organisational IoP, Semantic IoP, Technical IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/solution-fit  

Statement: Sovereignty ensures that digital infrastructures, products, and services safeguard European security, strategic assets, and interests while respecting European values and requirements.

Rationale: European Institutions and Administrations represent citizens and businesses, ensuring the holistic development of European society. By preventing dependency on external stakeholders, this principle helps avoid monopolies and vendor lock-in, which can lead to inefficient solutions and vulnerability to external influences. Sovereignty encompasses vendor lock-in, data sovereignty, and platform sovereignty, ensuring that digital solutions are aligned with European strategic interests and values. This principle promotes the development of independent, secure, and sustainable digital infrastructures, enhancing trust and resilience in public services. 

Implications: Organisations must adopt technical alternatives that promote cost-effective, sustainable, independent, and secure solutions. This involves conducting prior assessments of the suitability of these alternatives, considering each area of implementation, and taking into account relevant legal frameworks. From a business perspective, it is essential to establish policies that support digital sovereignty, including procurement practices that favour local or European providers and the development of in-house capabilities. Technically, systems must be designed to ensure data sovereignty, with robust data management practices and secure infrastructures that prevent unauthorised access and control by external entities. Continuous monitoring and evaluation are necessary to maintain compliance with sovereignty requirements and to adapt to evolving threats and challenges.

Principle Source: European Digital Infrastructure and Data Sovereignty - A policy perspective 

Principle Source URL: https://www.eitdigital.eu/fileadmin/files/2020/publications/data-sovereignty/EIT-Digital-Data-Sovereignty-Summary-Report.pdf   

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Governance

Interoperability Layer: Organisational IoP, Semantic IoP, Technical IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/sovereignty  

Statement: The Subsidiarity principle requires decisions to be taken as closely as possible to the citizen, ensuring that actions are taken at the most effective level, whether local, regional, or national.

Rationale: Implementing the Subsidiarity principle in public administrations solutions ensures that decisions are made at the level closest to the citizens, enhancing responsiveness and accountability. This principle helps to safeguard the ability of Member States to take action and make decisions that best address their specific needs and contexts. By promoting localised decision-making, subsidiarity fosters greater engagement and trust among citizens, leading to more effective and tailored public services.

Implications: To effectively implement Subsidiarity, organisations must establish governance structures that empower local and regional authorities to make decisions. Business processes should be designed to facilitate localised decision-making, including mechanisms for citizen engagement and feedback. Technically, solutions must support decentralised data management and interoperability to ensure that local systems can operate independently while still integrating with broader frameworks. Continuous monitoring and evaluation are necessary to ensure that decisions made at the local level are effective and aligned with overall objectives.

Principle Source: Subsidiarity and proportionality Underlying Principle (1) of the European Interoperability Framework (EIF)

Principle Source URL: https://interoperable-europe.ec.europa.eu/collection/nifo-national-interoperability-framework-observatory/2-underlying-principles-european-public-services#2.2   

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Strategy (Public Policy Cycle)

Interoperability Layer: Legal IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/subsidiarity 

Statement: Laws and regulations are technology neutral.

Rationale: Regulations tied to a particular technology may quickly become obsolete and require further amendment. Also, technology-specific regulations lead to dependency on specific manufacturers, developers, suppliers or distributors of technology or services. It guarantees freedom of choice by not forcing users into using any specific technology.

Implications: Laws and regulations do not require the use of any specific technology and do not favour nor discriminate against any technology.
It is possible to adhere to the laws and regulations with solutions and technologies from different manufacturers, developers, suppliers and distributors.

Principle Source: Technological neutrality and data portability Underlying Principle (5) of the European Interoperability Framework (EIF)

Principle Source URL: https://interoperable-europe.ec.europa.eu/collection/nifo-national-interoperability-framework-observatory/glossary/term/technological-neutrality-and-data-portability   

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Implementation

Interoperability Layer: Legal IoP, Technical IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/technology-neutrality 

Statement: Transparency ensures that all phases and aspects of digital public services and solutions, including data, decisions, and processes, are open, accessible, and understandable to all stakeholders.

Rationale: Transparency in digital public services and solutions is crucial for fostering trust, accountability, and engagement among citizens and stakeholders. Transparency in digital public services ensures that data is easily accessible, understandable, and usable, promoting better decision-making and enhancing public trust. By making information about how data is collected, processed, and used openly available, organisations can demonstrate their commitment to ethical practices and accountability. Transparency in decision-making processes allows stakeholders to understand the rationale behind decisions, fostering a sense of inclusion and participation. Overall, transparency supports the creation of a more open, responsive, and trustworthy public sector, driving innovation and improving service delivery.

Implications: To effectively implement Transparency, organisations must adopt practices that ensure openness and accessibility of information across all phases of digital public services. Business processes should include clear guidelines for data transparency, ensuring that data and metadata are available through standardised mechanisms and maintained for long-term availability. Decision-making processes should be documented and made accessible to stakeholders, providing insights into the rationale and criteria used. Technically, solutions must support real-time data access, user-friendly interfaces, and robust security measures to protect sensitive information while ensuring transparency. Continuous monitoring and evaluation are necessary to maintain transparency and address any emerging issues. Legal and regulatory frameworks should be established/referenced to support and enforce transparency measures, ensuring compliance and promoting a high level of public sector integrity. 

Principle Source: Transparency Underlying Principle (3) of the European Interoperability Framework (EIF)

Principle Source URL: https://interoperable-europe.ec.europa.eu/collection/nifo-national-interoperability-framework-observatory/2-underlying-principles-european-public-services   

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Governance

Interoperability Layer: Legal IoP,  Organisational IoP, Semantic IoP, Technical IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/transparency 

Statement: The organisation behind digital public services and the data manged need to incorporate the relevant mechanisms to ensure overall trustworthiness.

Rationale: Trust entails citizens' reliance on trustworthy and verifiable digital government applications and services, which fully conform to high-security standards and respond to user needs. Fundamental rights and security should be integrated into all policies with a digital dimension. To foster trust in digital interactions with the public sector, suitable regulatory frameworks that ensure transparency, predictability, security-by-design and, where necessary, reinforcement or adjustment of existing provisions must be provided.

Implications: The principle has a horizontal approach, where it affects the adoption of legal measures, organisational mechanisms, and technical means to ensure services are part of a network of trustworthiness interactions.

At the legal level, relevant and binding legislation needs to be put in place to ensure legal interoperability and guarantee that trust is the base of data interactions (exchange, processing, etc, amongst digital public services).

At the technical level, mechanisms, tools, and standards should be part of the certification of processes, ensuring that data exchanges between stakeholders are saved with built-in integrity and trust provisions.

Principle Source: Digital trust, from Shaping Europe’s digital future 

Principle Source URL: https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/trust   

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Strategy (Public Policy Cycle)

Interoperability Layer: Organisational IoP, Semantic IoP, Technical IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/trust   

Statement: Uncertainty management acknowledges the degree of confidence in decisions made during the analysis and design of Digital Public Services, arising from imperfect, unknown, or partial information.

Rationale: Uncertainty management is crucial for recognising and managing the inherent limitations in knowledge and information. By acknowledging uncertainty, organisations can make more informed decisions, anticipate potential risks, and develop strategies to mitigate them. This principle helps improve the quality of problem descriptions and solutions by encouraging thorough analysis and consideration of various possible outcomes. Addressing uncertainty enhances the robustness and adaptability of Digital Public Services, ensuring they can effectively operate in partially observable or stochastic environments.

Implications: Organisations must adopt practices that recognise and address the limitations in information and knowledge. Business processes should include thorough risk assessments and scenario planning to anticipate and mitigate potential uncertainties. Technically, solutions must be designed to be flexible and adaptable, capable of handling incomplete or evolving information. Continuous monitoring and feedback mechanisms are essential to update and refine solutions as new information becomes available. 

Principle Source: Hubbard Decision Research 

Principle Source URL: https://hubbardresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Decisions-Under-Uncertainty-23-July-2020-PDF.pdf  

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Implementation

Interoperability Layer: Legal IoP,  Organisational IoP, Semantic IoP, Technical IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/uncertainty-management 

Statement: The Use of standards for the design and implementation of digital public services is key to ensure robust, efficient and interoperable solutions, fostering collaboration across organisations and quality in the delivery.

Rationale: Implementing the principle of using standards in the design and implementation of solutions is crucial for ensuring consistency, reliability, and interoperability across digital public services. Standards provide clear benchmarks and guidelines that help streamline development processes, reduce complexity, and enhance the quality of services. By adhering to established standards, organisations can ensure that their solutions are interoperable with other systems or services, facilitating seamless data exchange and integration. This approach also promotes transparency and accountability, as standards are often developed through consensus and reflect best practices. The Interoperable Europe Act underscores the importance of using harmonised standards to support the development of interoperable public services, contributing to government efficiency and reducing administrative burdens and costs for citizens and businesses. Compliance with these standards, while generally voluntary, provides a presumption of conformity with essential requirements, enhancing trust and reliability. Ultimately, the use of standards supports the creation of robust, scalable, and user-friendly public services that meet the needs of citizens and businesses.

Implications: To effectively implement the Use of standards, organisations must adopt and adhere to relevant standards and specifications throughout the design and development process. Business processes should include rigorous conformance assessments and validation steps to ensure compliance with selected standards. Technically, solutions must be designed to support interoperability and compatibility with established standards, including the use of specific protocols, formats, and interfaces. Continuous monitoring and evaluation are necessary to maintain compliance and address any emerging issues. The use of mechanisms and methods for analysing and assessing specifications against specific constraints or frameworks are valuable tools to ensure interoperable digital public services. The Common Assessment Method for Standards and Specifications (CAMSS) is an example of an action and set of solutions that can be used to carefully select and evaluate the candidate specifications.  Additionally, fostering a culture of adherence to standards and best practices is essential to ensure that all stakeholders understand and commit to the principle. Training and capacity-building initiatives should be implemented to equip staff with the knowledge and skills needed to apply standards effectively.  

Principle Source: Regulation (EU) 2024/903 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 March 2024 laying down measures for a high level of public sector interoperability across the Union (Interoperable Europe Act)  

Principle Source URL: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/903/oj  

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Implementation

Interoperability Layer: Legal IoP,  Organisational IoP, Semantic IoP, Technical IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/use-of-standards 

Statement: The design of digital public services is centred around their users.

Rationale: Users of European public services are meant to be any public administration, citizen or business accessing and benefiting from the use of these services. Users’ needs should be considered when determining which public services should be provided and how they should be delivered. Therefore, as far as possible, user needs and requirements should guide the design and development of public services.

Implications: A multi-channel service delivery approach, offering both physical and digital alternatives, is crucial in public service design, as users may prefer different channels depending on their circumstances. To facilitate access to public services and hide internal administrative complexity, a single point of contact should be available, especially when multiple bodies collaborate to provide a service. Users' feedback should be systematically collected, assessed, and utilised to design new public services and improve existing ones.  

Principle Source: User-Centricity Underlying Principle (6) of the European Interoperability Framework (EIF)

Principle Source URL: https://interoperable-europe.ec.europa.eu/collection/nifo-national-interoperability-framework-observatory/glossary/term/user-centricity   

Scope: Business Agnostic

Category: Digital Public Service Governance

Interoperability Layer: Technical IoP, Semantic IoP, Organisational IoP

PURI: http://data.europa.eu/2sa/elap/user-centricity