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Programme on interoperability solutions and common frameworks for European public administrations, businesses and citizens (ISA2 programme)

2014/0185(COD)

The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy adopted the report by Carlos ZORRINHO (S&D, PT) on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a programme on interoperability solutions for European public administrations, businesses and citizens (ISA 2) Interoperability as a means for modernising the public sector.

The Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection and the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, exercising their prerogatives as associated committees under Rule 54 of Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, also gave their opinions on the report.

The committee recommended that the position of the European Parliament in first reading following the ordinary legislative procedure should amend the Commission proposal as follows:

Subject matter and objectives: Members considered that the new programme should also focus on: (i) the end-user, particularly the needs of citizens and SMEs; (ii) security, respect for privacy and a high level of data protection; (iii) privacy by default and by design; (iv) administrative simplification and modernisation; (v) multi-channel delivery, namely maintenance of the possibility to access services by way of traditional means in addition to electronic means, and the availability of technical support when using electronic means.

The report went on to suggest that the ISA 2 programme:

  • take into account social, economic and other aspects of interoperability, as well as the specific situation of micro enterprises and SMEs, in order to improve interaction between European public administrations on the one hand, and businesses and citizens on the other;
  • contribute to the development of a more effective, simplified and user-friendly e-administration at the national, regional and local levels of public administration;
  • ensure a common understanding of interoperability and evaluate regularly its developments.

Through the ISA 2 Programme, the Union should work with: (i) Member States to identify and promote best practices, to develop guidelines, to coordinate interoperability initiatives; (ii) industry and civil society and on all issues relevant to support interoperability and its relation to the better provision of public services.

Common frameworks and solutions established under the ISA 2 Programme should encourage the exploitation of the potential of e-government and e-democracy and ensure, facilitate and enable both cross-border and cross-sector interoperability.

Activities: the ISA 2 programme shall aim to support and promote, inter alia:

  • developing common semantics to link public administrations together and connect them to other sectors, thereby providing a way to make the European economy more competitive overall;
  • update and promotion of new common specifications and open standards, particularly with regard to the security of data transmission, processing and storage;
  • the maintenance and wider publication of a virtual one-stop shop acting as a platform for access and best practice resulting from the ISA 2 Programme,;
  • the establishment of a common repository of reusable solutions and standards that is accessible to public administrations or upcoming projects;
  • the development of mechanisms to safeguard privacy and security from the perspective of public administrations, citizens, and businesses.

6 months after the date of entry into force of the Decision, the Commission should develop a communication and training strategy, aiming to enhance information and to increase awareness with regard to the ISA 2 Programme.

Eligibility and selection criteria: in order to avoid duplication and to speed up the establishment of interoperability solutions, Members proposed that the results achieved by other relevant Union and Member State initiatives must be taken into account and duplicate solutions must not be eligible.

The report also contained a new article on implementation rules, which stressed that importance of sharing of experience, the exchange and promotion of good practices and coordination with other relevant Union initiatives.

This should include a due consideration of the impact of interoperability solutions on privacy and data protection. The sharing of experience and good practices between all stakeholders and relevant public consultations should be encouraged and facilitated by adequate means, such as by means of a virtual repository. Particular focus should be placed on the engagement of Member States to secure the cooperation of national experts on interoperability.

The Commission should bring together relevant stakeholders for the purposes of exchanging views among themselves and with the Commission on issues addressed by the Programme.

Monitoring and evaluation: when evaluating the ISA 2 Programme the Commission should pay particular attention to whether the solutions created and implemented have a positive or a negative impact on modernising the public sector and facilitating the needs of citizens and SMEs, for example by reducing the administrative burden and costs for citizens and SMEs, by creating employment opportunities and by enhancing the overall interconnection between public administrations on the one hand, and citizens and businesses, in particular SMEs, on the other.