The Interoperable Europe Act: Implications and impact on EU's digital
future
The European Commission's adoption of the Interoperable Europe Act
[http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/903/oj] marks a key development in
enhancing the EU's digital public sector. This Act is set to create a
network of interconnected digital public administrations, which not
only strengthens cross-border collaboration but also accelerates
Europe's digital transformation. At its core, the Act mandates
interoperability assessments, ensuring IT system modifications align
with the European Interoperability Framework
[https://ec.europa.eu/isa2/eif_en/] and shared 'Interoperable Europe
solutions'
[https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/taxonomy/term/http_e_f_fdata_ceuropa_ceu_fdr8_fInteroperableEuropeanSolution].
Transparency is promoted via the publication of these assessments,
steering public administrations toward unified standards.

Under the Act, public sector bodies are obliged to share
interoperability solutions like open-source software
[https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2023/745711/EPRS_BRI%282023%29745711_EN.pdf],
aiming to dismantle technical and organisational hurdles that impede
cross-border digital services. The 'Interoperable Europe Portal' will
centralise the sharing and reuse of these solutions, catalysing
administrative processes and cross-border service efficiency.
Furthermore, governance structures such as the 'Interoperable Europe
Board
[https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/03/04/interoperable-europe-act-council-adopts-new-law-for-more-efficient-digital-public-services-across-the-eu/]'
and community will oversee implementation, while initiatives like
regulatory sandboxes will drive innovation.

Businesses are poised to save between €5.7 billion and €19.2
billion
[https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_22_6908]
through streamlined interactions with digital public services,
reducing administrative burdens across the EU. Citizens will benefit
from savings estimated at €5.5 million to €6.3 million
[https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_22_6908]
and enjoy improved service delivery and increased governmental
transparency, which in turn boosts public trust and protects
individual rights.

The Interoperable Europe Act presents significant opportunities for
open data initiatives. By establishing an interoperable network of
digital public administrations, it promotes data sharing and
collaboration, facilitating the creation of a Common European Public
Sector Data Space
[https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/data-spaces]. Open
data will benefit from enhanced interoperability, as it enables easier
access to and sharing of public sector data across borders. This
alignment with open data principles will contribute to greater
transparency, innovation, and efficiency in the digital public sector,
in favour of citizens and businesses throughout Europe.

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Publication Date/Time
2024-04-15T08:00:00+00:00
Paving the path for seamless cross-border services and data synergy