The Guidelines
Discover the Guidelines for the Sharing and Reuse of Interoperability Solutions that were endorsed by the Interoperable Europe Board on 19 May 2026.
Short version
If you want a compact, practice-oriented guidance focused on the essential operational pathways for applying the sharing and reuse provisions on the Act in day-to-day implementation, consult the short version of the Guidelines.
Extended version
For further information on the legal, organisational and operational context, including key concepts, governance guidance, lifecycle framing and practical examples, see the extended version of the Guidelines.
Legal foundation of the Guidelines
⚖️The Guidelines have been created in accordance with Article 4(7) of the Interoperable Europe Act to provide practical support to Union institutions and public sector bodies in implementing the sharing and reuse provisions of this Regulation.
Article 4(7)
The Board shall adopt guidelines on the sharing of interoperability solutions.
Scope and Structure
The core of the document is a pathway-based structure that translates the IEA into practical operational routes. These pathways are organised in an operational order rather than in the sequence of the legal provisions, and they are not sequential or mutually exclusive. More than one pathway may apply over the lifecycle of the same interoperability solution.
How to get started
Union entities and public sector bodies may need to fulfil obligations under the IEA in different situations: when deciding how to implement a solution, when making a solution publicly accessible, when responding to a request from another public organisation, when adapting and sharing a reused solution, when organising future developments jointly, or when operating a portal, catalogue or repository with similar functions. The first task is therefore to identify whether the Article 4 sharing framework can be relevant to your situation, and then the entry point that best matches the immediate legal and operational situation.
Once you have identified the relevant pathway, you can use a common set of lifecycle stages to structure implementation. These stages apply flexibly and proportionately across the different pathways. They are intended to support planning, coordination and traceability, not to impose a single mandatory process.
Explore the Guidelines
In this section, readers will find a set of pathways that translate the provisions of the Interoperable Europe Act into practical guidance. Each pathway offers a structured, step-by-step approach aligned with specific articles of the Act. For more detailed guidance, see extended version.
Pathway 1: Prioritising solutions without restrictive licensing terms (Article 4(6))
This pathway explains when and how public organisations should favour interoperability solutions that allow reuse and adaptation without restrictive licensing, where comparable options exist. It supports transparent and proportionate decision-making when selecting or designing solutions.
Pathway 2: Publishing interoperability solutions via the Interoperable Europe Portal or connected portals, catalogues, and repositories (Article 4(3))
Designed for situations where a solution is meant to be reused by many, this pathway explains how making solutions publicly accessible supports scalability and avoids duplication. It covers publication through the Interoperable Europe Portal and connected platforms.
Pathway 3: Direct sharing of interoperability solutions upon request (Article 4(1))
This pathway comes into play when one public organisation asks another for access to a specific interoperability solution. It frames how such requests can be handled efficiently while respecting scope, conditions and practical reuse needs.
Pathway 4: Sharing adapted interoperability solutions (Article 4(4))
When a public organisation wishes to modify an existing interoperability solution for a different context, this pathway governs what follows. It clarifies how adaptations should be described and under which circumstances they should be made available to others.
Pathway 5: Cost-sharing agreements for future developments of interoperability solutions (Article 4(5))
This pathway applies when public organisation using the same interoperability solution decide to cooperate by jointly funding future enhancements or developments. It supports coordinated evolution of solutions while keeping reuse open.
Pathway 6: Connecting portals, catalogues, and repositories to the Interoperable Europe Portal (Article 8(4))
For organisations that already operate their own catalogues or repositories with similar functions to the Interoperable Europe Portal, this pathway explains how those platforms can be aligned. The focus is on discoverability, interoperability and sustainable access rather than duplication.
In addition, the Guidelines introduce a set of complementary implementation scenarios that extend beyond the Act’s explicit provisions, illustrating its potential practical contexts. They offer concrete guidance and establish a strong foundation for cross-border collaboration and coordination, while remaining fully aligned with the core principles of interoperability.
For further guidance and clarification, please refer to the FAQ section available on the Portal.