Our study "Analysis of ABR practices at international level" focuses on the Access to Base Registries(ABR) practices outside the European Union (EU). The objectives of the study included sharing knowledge about Base Registries (BR) access and interconnection in EU accession countries, identifying needs and challenges, and recommending possible actions for the future of ABR at SEMIC.
The SEMIC team conducted desk research and semi-structured interviews with officials from six EU accession countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, North Macedonia, Türkiye, and Serbia) to gather insights into specific use cases, needs, and challenges related to ABR. The report emphasises the role of BR as trusted sources of basic information for public administration. It highlights three main use cases for BR access and interconnection:
- Digitalisation of government services
- Increasing transparency and open data
- Cross-border data exchange
The digitalisation of government services, or eGovernment, is a key focus for candidate countries. These countries have implemented various tools and processes to develop eGovernment services, such as Albania's e-Albania portal that allows citizens and businesses to access 95% of public services in an electronic way. The study found that data quality and interconnection of primary databases are crucial for improving eGovernment services. Interoperability platforms, which enable real-time data exchange between public institutions, have also been established, with MConnect serving as a notable example. The Moldovan interoperability platform allows more than 300 public and private institutions to exchange connection requests efficiently. The level of implementation and adoption of these platforms varies across countries, with challenges such as lack of political will to invest or promote these initiatives or unclear mandates for data responsibilities.
Increasing transparency and open data is another significant use case for candidate countries. Many of these countries have developed open data portals to comply with European standards on open data publication. For example, North Macedonia has worked on disclosing information from the Registry of Beneficial Ownership to combat money laundering and corruption. The publication of authoritative government data as open data is also seen as beneficial for improving public and private services related to education, smart cities, and preventive healthcare. Yet, challenges remain, such as the need for increased publication of machine-readable government data, creation of data inventories, and training and awareness regarding open data.
The cross-border exchange of data is closely linked to the digitalisation of government services, aiming to facilitate the delivery of services to citizens beyond national borders. The study emphasises the importance of interoperability platforms in enabling seamless data exchange between public institutions in different countries. This is particularly relevant for candidate countries working towards EU accession, as it supports the integration of their public services with those of EU Member States. The study identifies challenges related to cross-border data exchange, including the need for improved data quality, increased adoption of interoperability platforms by public administrations, and better coordination between public institutions.
In conclusion, the study provides a comprehensive analysis of ABR practices in EU accession countries, highlighting the importance of digitalised government services, increased transparency and open data, and facilitated cross-border data exchange. The findings underscore the importance of political mandates, improved data quality, better coordination between public institutions, and increased adoption of interoperability platforms. The study also suggests actions for the future of ABR at SEMIC and the collaboration between SEMIC and public administrations in Europe, ensuring the successful adoption of ABR practices. SEMIC can take concrete steps such as developing tailored use cases, engaging in pilot projects, providing training, or supporting studies about data quality solutions for BRs.