Interoperable Europe is the initiative of the European Commission for a reinforced public sector interoperability policy. The Interoperable Europe Act proposes a strategic interoperability cooperation mechanism across the European Union.
The interoperability of public services is at the very heart of the European project. It is an enabler for cross-border cooperation, free flow of information, and exponential innovation. A strengthened EU interoperability governance, co-owned by Member States and the EU, allows to identify needs, experiment with possible solutions, and to develop and scale those that are the best for public reuse. This will help build connected digital public services that are interoperable-by-design across borders and sectors.
Interoperability is the ability of systems to exchange and make use of information. Improved interoperability in the public sector leads to more trust and better communication between public administrations and with citizens and businesses. It requires cooperation around semantic, legal, organisational, and technical issues.
Interoperability is vital in times of crisis, as the fight against Covid-19 has shown. Interoperability was necessary for the creation and recognition of digital Covid-19 certificates that made cross-border travel in the EU again possible. It also, for instance, allowed for the real-time sharing of data on available intensive care beds by hospitals.
A high level of interoperability of public sector digital services is essential for the establishment of the digital single market. The estimated cost-savings credited to cross-border interoperability alone range between €5.5 and €6.3 million for citizens, and between €5.7 and €19.2 billion for businesses.
Improved interoperability will lead to an emerging network of sovereign and interconnected public administrations, working together closely to create more innovation and to reduce fragmented policy implementation, in pursuit of the EU’s digital objectives for 2030 and the completion of the Digital Single Market.
Improving public sector interoperability is key to Europe’s digital success and essential to build a strong digital economy – trusted, safe, inclusive, and cooperative.
Johannes Hahn
Commissioner for Budget and administration
European commission
The Interoperable Europe Act will fundamentally transform the way public administrations in Europe cooperate. There will be a time before and after the Act.
Veronica Gaffey
Director-General "Informatics"
DG DIGIT
Through the Interoperable Europe Act, we want to create a stronger foundation for the interoperability of European public services. The proposal is the result of an innovative policy design process between the Member States and the European Commission.
