National Interoperability Framework Observatory: Empowering digital
cooperation across Europe
The National Interoperability Framework Observatory (NIFO)
[https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/collection/nifo-national-interoperability-framework-observatory]
is an initiative by the European Commission aimed at enhancing digital
cooperation across Europe. By providing a comprehensive overview of
interoperability activities, NIFO supports the alignment of national
frameworks under the Interoperable Europe
[https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/interoperable-europe] initiative,
previously the European Interoperability Framework. This alignment
fosters seamless digital interactions and cooperation among public
administrations in EU Member States. 

NIFO’s role extends beyond an observational one. It engages with 35
European countries to ensure that interoperability standards are not
only met but also continuously showcased. With its Digital Policy
Hub
[https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/collection/nifo-national-interoperability-framework-observatory/digital-policy-hub],
NIFO provides easy access to information and resources from each
Member State on digital public administration factsheets and country
case studies. For example, this Dutch infographic
[https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/sites/default/files/inline-files/DPA%20infographic_Netherlands_2022_vFinal.pdf]
shows the state of play of interoperability in the Netherlands
compared to the EU average. 

Additionally, NIFO hosts an interoperability at national level
[https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/collection/nifo-national-interoperability-framework-observatory/digital-public-administration-and-interoperability-national-level]
page. Here, each country’s interoperability initiatives are
displayed, along with the responsible parties for interoperability
policies. The ‘good practices’ section provides examples related
to NIFO themes, one of which is data openness. A featured initiative
from Italy involves making data generated for public contracts
available as open data
[https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/collection/nifo-national-interoperability-framework-observatory/interoperability-initiatives-italy],
while Portugal hosts the MOSAICO webportal
[https://mosaico.gov.pt/homepage] that promotes the usage of open data
by providing easily accessible information
[https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/collection/nifo-national-interoperability-framework-observatory/interoperability-initiatives-portugal].
The data.europa.eu portal [https://data.europa.eu/en] plays a
significant role in this open data ecosystem by providing a single
point of access to a vast array of public data from across Europe. 

Looking ahead, NIFO continues to be a facilitator in Europe’s
digital future. As public administrations increasingly rely on
interoperable systems, the benefits of NIFO’s work will become even
more visible, leading to a more connected and efficient digital
Europe. 

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Publication Date/Time
2024-10-14T08:00:00+00:00
Building an interoperable landscape by showcasing initiatives from
across Europe