The EU member states that are working on interoperability and alignment of e-government services say open specifications are crucial to building European public services. Open specifications allow the EU's public administrations to align their approaches to interoperability, according to an analysis of the interoperability programmes in 19 member states. The study flags the need to monitor the use of open technical specification and standards.

The study was published by the National Interoperability Framework Observatory, NIFO, one of the communities on Joinup, on 8 April. The study aggregates developments in the interoperability programmes and projects (National Interoperability Frameworks) in 19 member states, during 2012 and the first months of 2013. According to the report, in most of these countries open specifications, openness and re-usability are "highly influential elements" in national ICT policies.

At least five EU member states are adopting lists of recommended or mandatory technical specifications and standards; Denmark, Spain, Malta, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

Openness is an aim of most of the interoperability programmes, the study reports. However, this principle is interpreted differently by the Member States. For instance, Italy states that public data should be available in open formats so that third parties can process it. Estonia goes further, stating that public administrations need a justification for the use of closed standards and specifications.

Digital Agenda

The NIFO report is intended to continue and improve the monitoring of European interoperability actions, and contributes to the sharing of best practices. The EU member states have agreed to align their Interoperability Frameworks to the European Interoperability Framework (EIF). This is part of their commitment to the Digital Agenda for Europe (DAE) (action 26).

For the study, consultants sent requests for information to 32 countries, including the EU member states, the European Economic Area and EU candidate countries. Of those, 19 replied.

The report presents guidelines that will help countries to align their Interoperability Frameworks. The study also describes common barriers, including legacy IT systems and departments working in isolation.

More information:

NIFO Governance report

NIFO news item