Wide array of expert input needed for advancing cross-border interoperability – CSC gave feedback on the Interoperable Europe Act proposal

Wide array of expert input needed for advancing cross-border interoperability – CSC gave feedback on the Interoperable Europe Act proposal

Interoperability is a cornerstone of a well-functioning single market and European data economy. The European Interoperability Framework (EIF) plays a key role in advancing interoperability by drawing attention to all four layers of interoperability (legal, organisational, semantic, technical) and making recommendations from that starting point. CSC is pleased to note that the proposal for an Interoperable Europe Act (IEA) is based on the same approach as the EIF and intends to strengthen and further develop it.


In summary, CSC recommends taking into account the following in the further work on the IEA proposal:

  1. The obligations created by the IEA must be proportionate to avoid causing unnecessary administrative burden, especially in sectors that already have strong structures steering interoperability
  2. The mandate of the Interoperable Europe Board (IEB) must be wide enough to cover issues related to all four levels of interoperability (legal, organisational, semantic, technical)
  3. Considering the width and complexity of the topic, the IEB must receive a wide array of expert input in its work. This must be reflected in the number and composition of the working groups to be established to support the work of the IEB.
  4. There must be provisions that ensure that that the developers of the interoperability solutions will not have to share such information that would compromise security, e.g. the configurations of the servers or other production environments of the solutions.
  5. It is important to build on existing work and fully leverage both European and national structures, as well as solutions developed by international organisations, especially in the research sector.

 

Read the full statement here