On 11 April 2025, we mark the first anniversary of the Interoperable Europe Act’s entry into force. This new legislation marked a significant step forward in shaping a more connected and efficient digital public sector across the European Union. A year later, the first results are already visible, laying the groundwork for a truly interoperable Europe.
What has been achieved so far
Over the past 12 months, the Commission and the EU Member States have been actively working to implement the key provisions of the Act.
Among the most notable developments:
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The Interoperable Europe Board held its first meeting in December 2024, bringing together representatives from Member States and the Commission. The Board adopted the first official guidelines on interoperability assessments,offering concrete instructions for public sector bodies and Union entities on how to conduct the mandatory interoperability assessments under the Interoperable Europe Act. The guidelines and other relevant information on the assessments are available on the Interoperable Europe Portal.
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Interoperability assessments became mandatory as of January 2025, supporting Member States and EU entities in ensuring that new or updated digital public services take cross-border interoperability into account from the very beginning.
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The call for the informal expert group on the Next Generation EIF (European Interoperability Framework) was launched, with the goal of collecting strategic, forward-looking input on the future of public sector interoperability. The group's work will feed into the evolution of the EIF and support the development of a more actionable framework aligned with emerging technologies and policy needs.
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In January 2025, the European Commission initiated the INVEST project (INTeroperability Vision in Europe - Strategy Timeplan) to assist Member States in implementing the Interoperable Europe Act. With €1 million in funding from the Digital Europe programme, this one-year project focuses on mapping existing interoperability solutions, identifying gaps, proposing reusable solutions, facilitating knowledge exchange, and supporting joint pilot initiatives.
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The Interoperable Europe Portal has grown into a central access point for sharing solutions, tools, and learning resources, reinforcing the importance of reuse and knowledge-sharing across all levels of government.
Looking Ahead
As the Interoperable Europe Act celebrates its first anniversary, 2025 promises to bring even greater momentum, building on a strong foundation of collaboration and innovation established during the first year. With implementation now in full swing, the coming months will see intensified efforts towards deepening cooperation among Member States, fostering greater compliance and empowering public administrations to fully embrace interoperability-by-design.
This year, further initiatives - including the launch of regulatory sandboxes, the Interoperable Europe Community, enhanced monitoring and reporting, and the development of the strategic Interoperable Europe Agenda - will bring significant developments to Europe's interoperability landscape.
Stay tuned to the Interoperable Europe Portal for ongoing updates, practical tools, and events (SEMIC and the Interoperable Europe Academy Seasonal School are just around the corner), as well as other collaborative opportunities to participate actively in shaping Europe's interoperable digital future.