Towards Interoperable Europe

Interoperable Europe is a decades-long strategic goal. The aim is to ensure that citizens and businesses have access to better and more efficient digital public services in the European Union. The provision of digital public services requires data exchange and appropriate infrastructures. As a Member State of the European Union, we define what constitutes public services. However, in the case of cross-border services and data exchange, procedures are determined at the level of the EU.

A new EU regulation, the Interoperable Europe Act, entered into force in April 2024, formalise many of the procedures the Member States and the European Commission have established over the years. The aim is to improve the interoperability of public services and facilitate the exchange of data. However, the Interoperable Europe Act does not regulate data exchange or obligate Member States to provide cross-border services. Moreover, it does not create requirements for making public services available in all EU Member States.

The Interoperable Europe Act becomes fully applicable as of 12 January 2025.

Obligations of public authorities

At the national level, the Interoperable Europe Act applies to

  • state authorities,
  • regional or local authorities,
  • bodies governed by public law or associations formed by one or more such authorities or one or more such bodies governed by public law

when they regulate, provide, manage or implement trans-European digital public services.

Interoperability assessment. Authorities must carry out an interoperability assessment before taking new decisions or substantially modifying existing decisions relating to trans-European digital public services. The aim is to ensure that cross-border interoperability and its implications are considered as early as possible. The assessment outcomes must be published on a public website and shared with the newly created Interoperable Europe Board.

Sharing interoperability solutions. Authorities are obliged, on request, to share with another public sector body or a Union entity interoperability solutions they have introduced in connection with trans-European digital public services. The aim is to facilitate the reuse of tried and tested solutions and to speed up the digitalisation of public services. Cooperation is encouraged in the development of new solutions. Authorities can also meet the obligation of sharing their interoperability solutions by publishing their solutions on the Interoperable Europe Portal maintained by the Commission.

Correspondingly, Finnish authorities may request the authorities of another Member State to share their interoperability solution.

Training. Authorities must provide their staff entrusted with strategical or operational tasks having an impact on trans-European digital public services with appropriate training programmes concerning interoperability issues. The Commission has the primary responsibility to organise training and provide it to Member State authorities.

Guidelines and more information: 

Ministry of Finance serves as the single point of contact in Finland

The single point of contact coordinates within the Member State all questions related to the Interoperable Europe Act and supports its application. As of 12 January 2025, the Ministry of Finance will serve as the single point of contact referred to in the Interoperable Europe Act.

The Ministry of Finance will also serve as the point of contact for Åland based on separately agreed practices.

Matters related to the implementation of the Interoperable Europe Act will be discussed with different authorities through existing cooperation structures. Separate events may also be organised, where necessary.

The Interoperable Europe Board ensures long-term collaboration

The Interoperable Europe Board is a new cooperation body of the Member States and the European Commission. It coordinates the efforts to develop cross-border data exchange and the cross-border interoperability of digital public services and proposes ways to improve interoperability. The Board’s key tool is its annual strategic document, the Interoperable Europe Agenda. It is also responsible for developing the European Interoperability Framework (EIF) that defines interoperability guidelines.

The Ministry of Finance represents Finland in the Interoperable Europe Board.

Read more about the Interoperable Europe Board

Inquiries

Suvi Remes, Ministerial Adviser
Ministry of Finance, Public Sector ICT Department, Information Policy Unit
Tel. 0295 530 043, e-post suvi.remes(at)gov.fi