Interoperability assessments aim to ensure that digital public services remain compatible across borders by requiring public administrations to evaluate the impact of new or substantially modified binding requirements. This process helps embed interoperability-by-design into policy and service development, improving sustainability, adaptability, and reusability of digital solutions.

The study, conducted over eleven months, consulted 132 stakeholders from nearly all EU Member States – including national, regional, and local administrations, as well as EU institutions. Through interviews, co-creation workshops, surveys, and validation sessions, the study identified practical challenges, enabling factors, and opportunities for implementation.

A central component of the report is a set of 34 actionable recommendations, structured around three pillars:

• Processes and tools: including online forms, guidelines, the EIF checklist, and a repository of binding requirements.
• People: covering training strategies, peer reviews, and national support structures.
• Governance: highlighting the strategic role of the Interoperable Europe Board, the Permanent Working Group, and the broader interoperability community.

The report also features eight case studies, that illustrate how the assessment methodology can be applied in practice. These examples were used to test the approach and identify practical challenges and opportunities during implementation.

Ultimately, the report concludes that the foundational elements needed to begin conducting assessments are already available, and encourages administrations to start implementation with the tools and guidance currently in place.