2024 Recap: Transforming public services through interoperability
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As 2024 comes to a close, we reflect on an eventful year for public sector interoperability in Europe. This article highlights some of the key milestones and achievements of the past 12 months, showcasing the progress made in fostering cross-border collaboration, enhancing digital public services, and driving innovation across Member States. While not exhaustive, these highlights offer a glimpse into the impactful work carried out this year under the banner of Interoperable Europe.
Interoperable Europe Act entered into force
One of the most significant milestones of 2024 was the Interoperable Europe Act officially entering into force on 11 April 2024. This regulation provides a robust legal framework for cross-border interoperability, ensuring that public administrations across Member States can work seamlessly together. The Act introduces mechanisms such as mandatory interoperability assessments, effective from 12 January 2025, requiring public sector bodies to evaluate and address cross-border interoperability during the design phase of digital public services.
Additionally, it promotes the sharing and reuse of interoperability solutions among public administrations through the Interoperable Europe Portal, enhancing collaboration and efficiency. The Act also establishes a multi-level governance framework, steered by the Interoperable Europe Board and supported by the Interoperable Europe Community, to define and oversee the Interoperable Europe Agenda. Furthermore, it strengthens innovation and policy support by introducing regulatory sandboxes for policy experimentation, fostering GovTech initiatives, and providing training and implementation support to develop, test, and scale up solutions.
Learn more about the Act and its impact in the article Interoperable Europe Act enters into force.
Joinup becomes the Interoperable Europe Portal
This year also marked the transformation of Joinup into the Interoperable Europe Portal, a central hub for interoperability solutions, knowledge sharing, and collaboration. The new portal reflects the goals of the Interoperable Europe Act and provides enhanced access to resources for public administrations, businesses, and the community. Discover more about the portal’s evolution in the article Joinup becoming Interoperable Europe Portal.
Record-breaking attendance at SEMIC 2024
SEMIC 2024, Europe’s leading semantic interoperability and digital government conference, achieved a new record in participant numbers this year, with 480 on-site visitors and 1,188 unique online followers. Held in Brussels, the conference highlighted the importance of interoperability for public sector transformation and showcased innovative solutions and case studies. Read more about SEMIC 2024’s success in the article New Record Number of Participants at SEMIC 2024.
Interoperable Europe Board holds its first meeting
On 5 December 2024, the newly established Interoperable Europe Board convened for its inaugural meeting, marking a significant milestone in the governance of public sector interoperability across the European Union. The Board is tasked with overseeing the implementation of the Act and providing strategic guidance for fostering seamless cross-border digital public services.
During this first meeting, the Board discussed its initial priorities and adopted the interoperability assessment guidelines. The meeting also served as a platform to outline the Board’s governance structure and decision-making processes, ensuring transparency and accountability in its operations.
The Board brings together representatives from Member States and the Commission, creating a collaborative environment for driving interoperability initiatives. It will play a crucial role in aligning public administrations with the objectives of the European Digital Decade and ensuring the successful implementation of the Interoperable Europe Act.
This first meeting laid the foundation for a coordinated and impactful approach to interoperability, reflecting a shared commitment to improving digital public services across Europe. For more details, read the article Interoperable Europe Board holds first meeting.
First Best Cases Awards celebrate excellence in public sector innovation
This year, the first edition of the Public Sector Tech Watch Best Cases Awards was held at the GovTech Connect Assembly in Brussels, celebrating outstanding achievements in interoperability and digital transformation within public administrations. The awards highlighted innovative approaches that significantly enhance service delivery and foster citizen engagement. The City of Helsinki won the first prize in the Government-to-Government (G2G) category for its urban planning project, Reimagining Helsinki. Using artificial intelligence (AI), this initiative generates realistic images of potential street developments, enabling citizens to visualise and engage with proposed transformations in their neighbourhoods.
To learn about the other inspiring winning projects and special mentions, read the article First Best Cases Awards for Public Sector Tech Watch handed out.
2024 State of Play Report published
The 2024 edition of the State of Play Report, produced by the National Interoperability Framework Observatory (NIFO), provided comprehensive insights into the progress of interoperability initiatives across Europe. The report serves as a valuable resource for understanding trends and challenges in digital government. Access the full report in the article Publication of the 2024 edition of the State of Play report.
Open Source: Progress, trends and country insights
This year has seen significant progress in promoting and advancing open source software (OSS) policies across Europe. The Open Source Observatory (OSOR) published a new report, “Progress and trends in OSS policies,” that provides a comprehensive analysis of the evolution and implementation of OSS strategies at both national and regional levels. Complementing this, the Open Source Software Country Intelligence resource was further expanded, offering detailed insights into each Member State’s approach to open source software. This combination of reports highlights the growing importance of open source in enhancing reusability, innovation, interoperability and collaboration among public administrations. To explore the trends and policies shaping Europe’s open source landscape, read more in the articles New Publication: Progress and Trends in OSS Policies and Open Source Software Country Intelligence.
Final Berlin Declaration Monitoring Progress Report released
The final Berlin Declaration Monitoring (BDM) Progress Report was published this year, summarising the achievements and lessons learned from the Berlin Declaration initiative. The report underscores the importance of value-based digital transformation in creating efficient and user-centric digital public services. Explore the report in the article The final BDM Progress Report is out!.
Interoperable Europe Academy 2024
The Interoperable Europe Academy 2024 marked a major milestone with its two-day event at KU Leuven, held just as the Interoperable Europe Act came into force. Co-organised by KU Leuven and the Interoperability Unit at DG DIGIT, the event provided a platform to explore public sector interoperability, offering practical guidance on the implementation of the European Interoperability Framework (EIF) and the principles of the Interoperable Europe Act. The event brought together 200 in-person and 400 online participants.
In addition to its annual event, the Academy features over 30 self-paced online courses, accessible 24/7, designed to support digital transformation and foster interoperability expertise across Europe. For more details and to explore the Academy’s resources, visit the Interoperable Europe Academy.
Numerous webinars and workshops held throughout the year
This year, Interoperable Europe and its various activities hosted numerous webinars and workshops, bringing together experts, stakeholders, and public administrations to discuss key topics such as interoperability solutions, digital transformation, and the implementation of the Interoperable Europe Act. These events provided valuable opportunities for learning, networking, and collaboration. Upcoming webinars and workshops can be followed on the Interoperable Europe Portal.
Leontina Sandu recognised on the Government AI 100 List
Last but not least, as the year draws to a close, we are proud to share that Leontina Sandu, Head of the Interoperability and Digital Government Unit at DG DIGIT, has been named to Apolitical’s “Government AI 100” list for 2025. This prestigious list recognises public sector leaders from around the world who are driving innovation and delivering impactful solutions in artificial intelligence (AI) to benefit citizens.
Leontina is celebrated for ensuring that AI policies are underpinned by strong digital infrastructure, a critical foundation for their successful implementation. She joins an inspiring group of global leaders working to shape the future of AI in the public sector. Read more about her nomination and the other incredible nominees in our article Leontina Sandu recognised on the Government AI top 100 List
Looking ahead to 2025
2024 has been a transformative year for public sector interoperability.
As we wrap it up, we extend our warmest wishes to you for a joyful holiday season filled with connection, reflection, and celebration. Looking ahead to 2025, we are excited to continue fostering cooperation and innovation in the spirit of interoperability. Together, let’s build on this year’s successes and create even greater opportunities for collaboration and progress in the digital age.
Happy holidays and a prosperous New Year!