REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL Results of the final evaluation of the ISA² programme
Date: 2021-12-17
Institutions: Directorate-General for Digital Services, European Commission
Subjects: EU national, EU programme, administrative cooperation, cooperation policy, exchange of information, public administration, public authorities, type of business

EN 

  EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 17.12.2021  COM(2021) 965 final  REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL Results of the final evaluation of the ISA² programme {SWD(2021) 965}  
 
 
Table of contents 

1. 

Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 2 

2.  What was expected from the ISA2 programme? ................................................................. 2 

3.  How has the situation evolved during the evaluation period? ............................................ 4 

3.1.  Adoption of a new EIF ................................................................................................ 4 

3.2.  Political context ........................................................................................................... 4 

3.3.  An increasingly complex EU regulatory environment ................................................ 5 

3.4.  Digitalisation investments ........................................................................................... 6 

4.  Evaluation findings ............................................................................................................. 6 

4.1.  To what extent was the ISA2 programme successful? ................................................. 7 

4.2.  How did the ISA2 programme make a difference to the lives of citizens and 
businesses? .............................................................................................................................. 9 

4.3.  Are the ISA2 programme and its objectives still relevant? ........................................ 10 

5.  Conclusions and lessons learned ....................................................................................... 10 

5.1. 

Importance of interoperability for the implementation of EU policies ..................... 11 

5.2.  From a coherent to a strategic approach to EU public sector interoperability .......... 11 

5.3.  Development and take-up of mature and user-friendly interoperability solutions .... 12 

6.  Next steps .......................................................................................................................... 13 

1 

 
 
 
1. 

INTRODUCTION 
The  ISA2  Decision1  on  1  January  2016  launched  the  five-year  programme  on 

interoperability 

solutions  and  common 

frameworks 

for  European  public 

administrations, businesses and citizens (ISA2 programme). It is the fifth in a series of 

European Commission programmes2 focusing on interoperable solutions for the public 

sector. Interoperability as defined in the European Interoperability Framework (EIF) 

is not a technical issue. It is more about legal, organisational, semantic and technical 

requirements to make integrated public services possible. 

This report presents the findings and recommendations of the final evaluation of the 

ISA2 programme3. Under Article 13(3) of the ISA2 Decision, the Commission must 

carry out this evaluation and communicate its results to the European Parliament and 

the Council by 31 December 2021. 

The Commission carried out the evaluation using a team of independent experts from 

a consultancy4. The evaluation was overseen by an interservice steering group5 and 

carried out in close coordination with the evaluation of the EIF and impact assessment 

for a future interoperability policy6, which the Commission  plans to  propose  to  the 

Parliament and Council in Q2 2022. 

2. 

WHAT WAS EXPECTED FROM THE ISA2 PROGRAMME? 

The ISA2 programme aimed to achieve the following four objectives (Article 1(1) ISA2 

Decision1): 

(a)  Develop, maintain and promote a holistic EU approach to interoperability. 

2 

1  Decision (EU) 2015/2240 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2015 establishing 
a  programme  on  interoperability  solutions  and  common  frameworks  for  European  public  administrations, 
businesses and citizens (ISA2 programme) as a means for modernising the public sector (OJ L 318, 4.12.2015, 
p. 1). 
1) Community contribution for telematics interchange of data between administrations (IDA), 1995-1997; 2) 
Second  phase  of  the  IDA  programme  (IDA  II),  1999-2004;  3)  Interoperable  delivery  of  pan-European 
eGovernment  services  to  public  administrations,  business  and  citizens  (IDABC),  2005-2009;  4) 
Interoperability solutions for European public administrations (ISA), 2010-2015; 5) Interoperability solutions 
and common frameworks for European public administrations, businesses and citizens (ISA2), 2016-2020. 
3  The  details  of  the  evaluation  process  and  results  together  with  the  supporting  evidence  are  available  in 

Commission staff working document: SWD(2021) 965 final. 

4  CEPS  (2021):  Study  supporting  the  final  evaluation  of  the  programme  on  interoperability  solutions  for 
European public administrations, businesses and citizens (ISA²), European Commission. DOI: 10.2799/94683 
5  Members  of  the  group  were  Directorates-General  CNECT,  DEFIS,  DIGIT,  ECFIN,  EMPL,  ENER,  ENV, 
ESTAT, FISMA, GROW, JUST, MOVE, NEAR, OP, REFORM, RTD, SANTE, SG, TAXUD and the JRC. 
initiative:  https://ec.europa.eu/isa2/shaping-future-
the 

the  current  status  of 

information  on 

6  More 

interoperability-policy_en 

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(b)  Facilitate  efficient  and  effective  electronic  cross-border  or  cross-sector 

interaction to contribute to the development of a more effective, simplified and 

user-friendly e-administration at national, regional and local levels of public 

administration. 

(c)  Identify,  create  and  operate 

interoperability  solutions  supporting  the 

implementation of EU policies and activities. 

(d)  Facilitate  the  re-use  of  interoperability  solutions  by  European  public 

administrations. 

To  achieve  these  objectives,  the  programme  built  on  the  achievements  of  its 

predecessor, the  ISA programme7. It also put emphasis on fitting smoothly into the 

wider policy framework for digitalisation, particularly on the interoperability of public 

administrations  in  the  EU.  Article 1(2)  of  the  ISA2  Decision  states  that  the  ISA2 

programme  shall  ensure  a  common  understanding  of  interoperability  through  the 

European Interoperability Framework (EIF) and its implementation in Member States’ 

administrations.  

Other  policy  initiatives  to  which  ISA2  was  supposed  to  contribute  include  the 

eGovernment  Action  Plan  2016-20208  as  well  as  several  sector-specific 

interoperability initiatives (e.g. in the area of justice and home affairs, health, European 

funds)9. 

ISA2  ran  from  1 January  2016  until  31 December  2020  with  a  total  budget  of 

EUR 130.9 million. Some activities are still ongoing. It funded actions defined on a 

yearly basis  in the annual  rolling work programme.  ISA2 was open to  EU  Member 

States,  other  members  of  the  European  Economic  Area  and  candidate  countries.  In 

addition to the 28 EU Member States (27 for 2020), four other countries took part in 

the programme10. 

7  Article 1(3) of Decision (EU) 2015/2240. 
8  Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and 
Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions EU, eGovernment Action Plan 2016-2020. Accelerating 
the digital transformation of government, COM(2016) 0179 final of 19 April 2016. 
See Recitals 4 to 19 of Decision (EU) 2015/2240. 
Iceland, Norway (since 2016), Montenegro (since 2018) and North Macedonia (2020). The programme also 
encouraged cooperation with other non-EU countries and with international organisations and bodies. In 2018, 
cooperation agreements were signed with Uruguay and Ukraine. 

9 
10 

3 

 
                                                           
3. 

HOW HAS THE SITUATION EVOLVED DURING THE EVALUATION PERIOD? 

During the evaluation period, digitalisation and more precisely interoperability have 

become more important at all levels of society. As a result, it is a continued priority of 

the European Commission. 

3.1. 

Adoption of a new EIF 
As planned in the Communication on a Digital Single Market Strategy for Europe11 

and the eGovernment Action Plan 2016-2020, the EIF was updated and extended in 

2017.  The  new  EIF  was  set  out  in  a  communication12  and  accompanied  by  an 

interoperability  action  plan.  The  new  EIF  gave  the  ISA2  programme  a  new  policy 

framework  consistent  with  the  programme’s  objectives.  In  February  2020,  the 

Commission announced in its Communication ‘A European strategy for data’13 that 

it would present a strengthened EIF. 

3.2. 

Political context 

During  the  evaluation  period,  the  political  support  from  Member  States  has  been 

steadily growing. With the Tallinn Declaration on eGovernment14, the ministers in 

charge of eGovernment policy across the EU spelled out their commitment to several 

principles,  including  ‘interoperability  by  default’.  This  commitment  was  recently 

renewed  by  the  Berlin  Declaration  on  Digital  Society  and  Value-Based  Digital 

Government15,  which  identified  the  need  to  take  a  value-based  approach  – 

incorporating digital sovereignty and interoperability – to the digital transformation of 

the public sector. 

11  Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and 
Social  Committee  and  the  Committee  of  the  Regions,  A  Digital  Single  Market  Strategy  for  Europe, 
COM(2015) 192 final of 6 May 2015. 

12  Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and 
Social  Committee  and  the  Committee  of  the  Regions,  European  Interoperability  Framework  — 
Implementation Strategy, COM(2017) 134 final of 23 March 2017. 

13  Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and 
Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, A European strategy for data, COM(2020) 66 final of 
19 February 2020. 

14  Tallinn Declaration on eGovernment, made at a ministerial meeting on 6 October 2017 during the Estonian 

Presidency. 

15  Berlin Declaration on Digital Society and Value-Based Digital Government made at ministerial meeting on 8 

December 2020 during the German Presidency. 

4 

 
                                                           
In February 2020, the Commission adopted the Communication ‘Shaping Europe’s 

digital future’16 under the headline ambition ‘Europe fit for the digital age’. It sets out 

as a key action the development of a ‘reinforced EU governments interoperability 

strategy’, which aims to improve coordination and the adoption of common standards 

for public services and data flows.  

3.3. 

An increasingly complex EU regulatory environment 

The  ISA2  Decision  refers  to  a  wide  range  of  sector-specific  and  cross-cutting  EU 

interoperability activities at EU level. Further key EU initiatives have been adopted 

since the programme began: 

 

2016  –  the General  Data  Protection  Regulation17  and the  Web Accessibility 

Directive18 came into force. 

 

2018 – the Regulation on the Single Digital Gateway19 came into force, as did 

the Regulation on the free flow of non-personal data20. 

 

2019 – the EU Cybersecurity Act21 and other related legislation came into force 

as well as the Open Data Directive22. 

 

2020  –  the  Commission  proposed  the  Digital  Services  Act23,  the  Data 

Governance  Act24  and,  in  response  to  the  COVID-19  crisis,  interoperability 

initiatives around eHealth25. 

16  Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and 
Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, Shaping Europe's digital future, COM(2020) 67 final of 
19 February 2020. 

17  Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection 
of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and 
repealing Directive 95/46/EC (OJ L 119, 4.5.2016, p. 1). 

18  Directive  (EU)  2016/2102  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of  26  October  2016  on  the 
accessibility of the websites and mobile applications of public sector bodies (OJ L 327, 2.12.2016, p. 1). 
19  Regulation (EU) 2018/1724 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 2 October 2018 establishing a 
single digital gateway to provide access to information, to procedures and to assistance and problem-solving 
services and amending Regulation (EU) No 1024/2012 (OJ L 295, 21.11.2018, p. 1). 

20  Regulation  (EU)  2018/1807  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of  14  November  2018  on  a 
framework for the free flow of non-personal data in the European Union (OJ L 303, 28.11.2018, p. 59). 
21  Regulation (EU) 2019/881 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on ENISA (the 
European  Union  Agency  for  Cybersecurity)  and  on  information  and  communications  technology 
cybersecurity certification and repealing Regulation (EU) No 526/2013 (OJ L 151, 7.6.2019, p. 15). 

22  Directive (EU) 2019/1024 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on open data and 

the re-use of public sector information (OJ L 172, 26.6.2019, p. 56). 

23  Proposal  for  a  Regulation  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  on  a  Single  Market  for  Digital 
Services (Digital Services Act) and amending Directive 2000/31/EC, COM(2020) 825 final of 15.12.2020. 
24  Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on European data governance (Data 

Governance Act), COM(2020) 767 final of 25.11.2020. 

25  https://ec.europa.eu/health/ehealth/covid-19_en 

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3.4. 

Digitalisation investments 

Public administrations across the EU are investing heavily in digitalising their services 

and  back-offices.  The  COVID-19  crisis  has  highlighted  the  importance  of  digital 

solutions  even  more.  Besides  ISA2,  other  EU  programmes  contributed  to  this 

digitalisation drive during the evaluation period: 

  The  Structural  Reform  Support  Programme26,  implemented  from  2017  to 

2020, followed by the Technical Support Instrument for 2021 to 202727. 

  Horizon  202028  (dedicated  to  research  and  innovation),  the  European  Social 

Fund29 and the European Regional Development Fund30 funded digitalisation. 

The Recovery and Resilience Facility31 will provide another important source of 

funding in the future, as 20% of its budget must be allocated to digital expenditure.  

4. 

EVALUATION FINDINGS 

The  evaluation  of  the  ISA2  programme  relied  on  quantitative  and  qualitative  data 

collected  using  various  methods.  This  included  desk  research,  public  consultation, 

targeted  online  surveys,  in-depth  interviews  and  two  stakeholder  workshops.  The 

consultation  activities  allowed  for  a  broad  coverage  of  ISA2  stakeholders  –  from 

representatives  of  EU  Member  States  and  Commission  services  to  citizens  and 

standardisation bodies. 

For better data collection, a sample of 21 actions was selected from the 54 actions – 

grouped into 9 packages – funded by the ISA2 programme. Three pre-defined criteria 

were used for the sampling to ensure that the selected actions are largely representative 

26  Regulation  (EU)  2017/825  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of  17  May  2017  on  the 
establishment  of  the  Structural  Reform  Support  Programme  for  the  period  2017  to  2020  and  amending 
Regulations (EU) No 1303/2013 and (EU) No 1305/2013 (OJ L 129, 19.5.2017, p. 1). 

27  Regulation (EU) No 2021/240 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 February 2021 establishing 

a Technical Support Instrument, (OJ L 57, 18.2.2021, p. 1). 

28  Regulation  (EU)  No  1291/2013  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of  11  December  2013 
establishing  Horizon  2020  -  the  Framework  Programme  for  Research  and  Innovation  (2014-2020)  and 
repealing Decision No 1982/2006/EC Text with EEA relevance (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 104). 

29  Regulation (EU) No 1304/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on the 
European Social Fund and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1081/2006 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 470). 
30  Regulation (EU) No 1301/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on the 
European Regional Development Fund and on specific provisions concerning the Investment for growth and 
jobs goal and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1080/2006 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 289). 

31  Regulation (EU) 2021/241 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 February 2021 establishing 

the Recovery and Resilience Facility (OJ L 57, 18.2.2021, p. 17). 

6 

 
                                                           
of the programme. The overall data collection was also complemented by an expert 

assessment of the programme carried out by five technical interoperability experts. 

The  evaluation  focused  on  the  following  seven  main  criteria32:  relevance, 

effectiveness, efficiency, coherence, EU added value, utility and sustainability. 

4.1. 

To what extent was the ISA2 programme successful? 

Based on data collected from 102 consulted stakeholders33, extensive desk research, 

and  expert  assessments,  the  evaluation  shows  that  the  ISA2  programme  has  gone 

some way towards achieving its objectives. Consulted ISA2 solution users and action 

owners, who are more knowledgeable about the programme, generally consider that it 

has gone a considerable way towards achieving its objectives.  In general, out of all 

consulted  stakeholder  groups,  respondents  from  national  and  sub-national  public 

authorities gave the lowest scores in terms of the programme achieving its objectives. 

On the general and specific objectives, most respondents and desk research confirm 

that the following objectives have been achieved to some extent or to a great extent: 

 

‘Identifying,  creating,  and  operating  interoperability  solutions  supporting 

the implementation of EU policies and actions’ (overall average score of 3.43 

out of 5). ISA2 actions have contributed in various ways to the implementation of 

the  EIF34,  the  Single  Digital  Gateway35,  the  Open  Data  Directive36,  e-

procurement37,  the  Inspire  Directive38,  the  European  Statistical  System39  and 

financial legislative acts40. 

 

‘Facilitating the re-use of interoperability solutions’ (overall average score of 

3.43 out of 5). The Joinup action41, the platform with the same name, provides a 

comprehensive overview of existing interoperable solutions available for re-use – 

32  See Tool #47 of the Commission’s Better Regulation Toolbox (as of July 2021). 
33  For confidentiality and data protection reasons, the evaluation team asked the action owners to contact their 
solutions  users  as  intermediaries  for  consultation  activities.  This  two-step  approach  may  have  limited  the 
number of responses received. 

34  https://ec.europa.eu/isa2/actions/continuously-updating-european-interoperability-strategy_en 
35  https://ec.europa.eu/isa2/actions/common-architecture-single-digital-gateway_en 
36  https://ec.europa.eu/isa2/solutions/dcat-application-profile-data-portals-europe_en 
37  https://ec.europa.eu/isa2/actions/simplifying-public-tenders_en 
38  https://ec.europa.eu/isa2/actions/elise_en 
39  https://ec.europa.eu/isa2/actions/sharing-statistical-services-and-solutions_en 
40  https://ec.europa.eu/isa2/actions/towards-better-financial-data-reporting_en 
41  https://ec.europa.eu/isa2/actions/platform-sharing-knowledge-good-practices-and-it-solutions-public-

sector_en 

7 

 
                                                           
including access to several national and even local portals. The interactive map42 

on the ISA2 webpage shows the take-up of ISA2 solutions in the EU. More could 

be done to boost their take-up and encourage their re-use, especially regionally 

and locally. 

 

‘Developing,  maintaining  and  promoting  a  holistic  approach 

to 

interoperability in the EU’ (overall average score of 3.39 out of 5). ISA2 plays 

an important part in raising awareness of interoperability, having set up structures 

for  cooperation  with  EU  countries  (the  ISA2  Committee)  and  supporting  the 

promotion and monitoring of EIF implementation.  

The ISA2 programme has been less successful in contributing to  ‘developing more 

effective,  simplified  and  user-friendly  public  e-administration  at  the  national, 

regional  and  local levels’  (overall  average  score  of  3.20  out  of  5).  The  evaluation 

showed that there is still limited knowledge and take-up of solutions regionally and 

locally. There is also the lack of a strategic and holistic approach. 

Work across ISA2 packages has progressed as expected relative to the planned work 

and  budget.  The  heterogeneity  of  performance  indicators  made  it  difficult  to  draw 

conclusions  about  the  programme’s  overall  cost-effectiveness.  For  those  packages 

where it was possible to apply cost-effectiveness techniques, costs per end-user (e.g. 

business,  citizens,  etc.)  have  been  estimated  as  low.  The  benefits  are  therefore 

greater than the costs for the ultimate beneficiaries of the solutions developed. 

However, benefits risk fading in the absence of appropriate sustainability measures. 

Substantial synergies and limited overlaps among ISA2 actions paint a positive picture 

of the programme’s internal coherence. However, prioritising a smaller set of actions 

would increase synergies. ISA2 worked closely with a wide range of other relevant 

EU  programmes,  policies  and  initiatives.  This  could,  however,  be  done  more 

systematically. 

42  https://ec.europa.eu/isa2/solutions_en 

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4.2. 

How  did  the  ISA2  programme  make  a  difference  to  the  lives  of  citizens  and 

businesses? 

ISA2 aimed to make a difference to the lives of citizens and businesses by helping EU 

public  administrations  reduce  the  administrative  burden  and  provide  user-friendly 

public services, especially when interacting with public administrations in other EU 

countries.  The  Commission  and  the  European  Parliament  have  acknowledged  that 

small and medium-sized enterprises in particular suffer from administrative burden43. 

End-users,  citizens  and  businesses  should  benefit  from  common,  reusable  and 

interoperable front  office services  resulting  from  the better integration of processes 

and exchange of data through the back offices of public administrations in the EU. 

ISA2  has  contributed  to  EU-level  coordination,  necessary  for  improving  overall 

interoperability among European public administrations – including front- and back 

office  solutions.  Most  respondents  confirmed  that  national  or  sub-national 

initiatives alone would have only gone a small way towards achieving most of the 

objectives. Consulted solution users, national and sub-national public administrations 

and stakeholders responsible for programme governance themselves consider that an 

EU-level approach is therefore better suited to addressing the challenges related 

to the interoperability of public administrations and services. ISA2 could also achieve 

its  objectives  at  a  lower  cost  than  comparable  national  or  sub-national  initiatives. 

However, according to most respondents across stakeholder groups, when it comes to 

reducing  the  cost  and  administrative  burden  of  cross-border  interaction,  such 

objectives have been achieved only to a limited extent.  

The  way  solutions  meet  user  needs  still  needs  to  improve.  These  needs  and 

problems are expected to be better addressed due to more extensive take-up of ISA2 

solutions across European public administrations.  

To sum up, the programme has made limited tangible differences to the lives of citizens 

and businesses due to its technical nature. Nevertheless, it has brought EU added value. 

The  evaluation  suggests  that  its  benefits  could  become  sustainable  by  further 

43  https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52020DC0103 
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2020-0359_EN.html . 

9 

 
                                                           
developing  some  of  its  solutions  in  open-source  communities  or  by  encouraging 

companies to develop services using free ISA2 solutions under the European Union 

Public Licence44. 

4.3. 

Are the ISA2 programme and its objectives still relevant? 

The original needs and problems that the programme intended to address remain highly 

relevant. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the programme’s relevance and 

the  relevance  of  interoperability  initiatives  more  generally.  The  pandemic  has  also 

made  existing  needs  more  pressing,  including  the  need  for  coordination  when 

implementing digital solutions at EU level45.  

Stakeholders complain that a holistic approach to interoperability is promoted but 

not ensured, especially when it comes to the interoperability of the solutions provided 

to implement EU policies. 

5. 

CONCLUSIONS AND LESSONS LEARNED 

The  evaluation  paints  an  overall  positive  picture  of  how  the  ISA2  programme  has 

performed. Public sector interoperability is now more relevant than ever to create 

added  value  for  citizens  and  businesses.  The  programme  was  implemented  in  a 

mostly  non-binding  policy  framework  that  is  evolving  at  an  unprecedented  pace 

(section  3.3).  The  upcoming  substantial  investments  in  public  sector  digitalisation 

(section 3.4) call for  close consideration of the lessons to be learned from the ISA2 

programme and the need to continue to build on its achievements. 

Said  lessons  are  relevant  for  the  continued  activities  under  the  Digital  Europe 

Programme46 and for a future interoperability policy. However, we must not lose sight 

of the need for an overall approach to EU public sector interoperability across policies 

and programmes.  

44  https://eupl.eu/ 
45 

In this context, the ISA2 programme responded by facilitating the exchange of best practices and the re-use of 
solutions by means of a common repository, the ‘Digital Response to COVID-19’ collection on Joinup. 
46  Regulation (EU) 2021/694 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2021 establishing the 

Digital Europe Programme and repealing Decision (EU) 2015/2240 (OJ L 166, 11.5.2021, p. 1). 

10 

 
                                                           
5.1. 

Importance of interoperability for the implementation of EU policies 

ISA2 actions have contributed successfully to the implementation of a wide range of 

EU policies. A growing number of policies47 have a significant impact on the digital 

infrastructure of the EU public sector. The coordination of sector-specific proposals 

with  enhanced 

interoperability  governance 

is 

the  key 

to  ensuring  smooth 

implementation  and  interoperable  European  digital  public  services.  Even  where  no 

central solutions are provided, EU Member States have asked for more coordination 

and  exchange  of  best  practices  in  the  digital  implementation  of  EU  policies. 

COVID-19 related interoperability solutions have shown that the EU is increasingly 

being asked to provide interoperable solutions that countries can reuse or link to. 

The impact goes beyond the level of EU Member States. Regional and local public 

administrations in many countries are at least jointly responsible for providing digital 

public  services.  This  means  that  they  would  benefit  from  relevant  EU  policies 

accompanied by implementation solutions that are interoperable by default. 

5.2. 

From a coherent to a strategic approach to EU public sector interoperability 

The  evaluation  shows  that  the  programme  could  contribute  to  the  development, 

maintenance and promotion of a coherent approach to the digital transformation 

of  the  EU  public  sector  and  to  interoperability  through  the  actions  related  to  EIF 

implementation.  

In addition to the general political context (section 3.2), the Commission has recently 

adopted a communication on  the 2030 Digital  Compass: the European way for  the 

Digital  Decade48.  That  document  emphasises  the  need  to  ‘ensure  interoperability 

across all levels of government and public services’. With the Berlin Declaration, the 

ministers in charge of eGovernment policy in the EU Member States highlighted the 

47  Besides the initiatives mentioned in section 3.3, the following relevant proposals were presented in 2021: the 
Digital Green Certificate Regulation, a framework for a European Digital Identity, and a Regulation laying 
down harmonised AI rules.  

48  Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and 
Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, 2030 Digital Compass: the European way for the Digital 
Decade, COM(2021) 118 final of 9.3.2021.  

11 

 
                                                           
importance  of  interoperability  also  for  digital  sovereignty  and  as  a  prerequisite  for 

value-based digitalisation. 

In the future, different options should be carefully assessed to address the outstanding 

issues, taking into account the following needs addressed by stakeholders:  

  Need  for  enhanced  interoperability  governance  involving  EU  countries  and 

regional and local public administrations.  

  Need for digital-ready EU policies. 

  Need  for  structured  and  proactive  collaboration  and  the  exchange  of  best 

practices  between  all  levels  of  EU  public  administrations  (national,  regional, 

local) involved in developing digital public services. 

  Need for strategic and collaborative interoperability planning across different 

policy programmes and funding initiatives in order to steer investments towards a 

set of key mature solutions based on user needs.  

  Need for systematic links with European standardisation work and increased 

awareness  in  the  public  sector  at  all  levels  of  the  key  role  of  standards  in 

supporting the twin digital/green transitions. 

  Need for the promotion of successful solutions and continued awareness-raising 

of interoperability. 

5.3. 

Development and take-up of mature and user-friendly interoperability solutions  

The  evaluation  shows  that  the  programme  was  useful  in  identifying,  creating  and 

operating  interoperability  solutions  and  promoting  their  re-use.  Some  concrete 

actions should be carefully assessed to strengthen these activities and ensure they are 

sustainable: 

  Focus  on  developing  a  smaller  set  of  key  mature  solutions,  continually 

developing  them  and  encouraging  their  take-up.  Concentrating  on  critical 

priorities and user needs could also increase user satisfaction. 

  Provide  a  one-stop  shop  for  mature  interoperability  solutions  to  help 

incorporate  them  into  the  existing  interoperability  ecosystem,  give  existing 

solutions more visibility and boost their take-up regionally and locally with the 

support of EU Member States. 

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 

Improve the quality of existing solutions by better considering user needs and 

involving users in creating them. 

  Support  experimentation  and  innovation  by  setting  up  an  agile  process  for 

developing  solutions  and  leveraging  innovation  procurement  coupled  with 

‘sandboxing’ for testing solutions and getting better feedback. 

  Encourage  collaboration  with  open-source  communities  for  the  sustainable 

and open development of existing and future solutions. 

6. 

NEXT STEPS 

In the ongoing implementation of the Digital Europe Programme and the preparation 

of  a  future  interoperability  policy,  the  Commission  will  pay  close  attention  to  the 

findings and recommendations set out above. It will analyse them in order to ascertain 

whether the issues raised are genuine and address them, in close cooperation with EU 

Member States.  

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