Europe’s push to make public services speak the same digital language has moved forward, with the European Commission publishing its first Annual Report on Interoperability in the Union, offering insight into how the EU is turning new legal rules into practical tools that make cross-border public services work more smoothly.
The report reviews the first year of implementation of the Interoperable Europe Act, in force since April 2024. It finds steady progress in building a governance framework to connect national administrations, systems and data flows across Member States. Central to this effort is the launch of the Interoperable Europe Board and Community, alongside the strengthening of the Interoperable Europe Portal as a one-stop hub for reusable digital solutions, standards and guidance.
The Commission also highlights new mandatory interoperability assessments for trans-European digital public services introduced in January 2025, designed to ensure that cross-border data exchange and reuse are built in from the start. Capacity-building has expanded through the Interoperable Europe Academy, while new regulatory sandboxes aim to let authorities safely test innovative digital solutions under real-world conditions.
Charting the shift from legislation to delivery, the report emphasises the need to go from a shared EU framework on paper to practical collaboration between governments. By reducing duplication, improving data exchange and promoting common solutions, the Commission argues that interoperability can achieve a more efficient, citizen-focused digital Union. Read about examples of interoperability initiatives for public administrations across Europe.
