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

2014/0185(COD)

The European Parliament adopted by 569 votes to 31 with 24 abstentions, a legislative resolution 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

Parliament’s position, adopted in first reading following the ordinary legislative procedure, amended the Commission proposal as follows:

Subject matter and objectives: the Decision establishes, for 2016-2020, a programme on interoperability solutions and common frameworks for European public administrations, businesses and citizens. It is recalled that Interoperability within local, national and European public administrations facilitates the achievement of the goals set out by the European Parliament in its resolution of 29 March 2012 on the EU Citizenship Report 2010: Dismantling the obstacles to EU citizens’ rights.

The amended text states that the objectives of the ISA2 Programme are to:

  • develop, maintain and promote a holistic approach to interoperability in the Union in order to eliminate fragmentation in the interoperability landscape in the Union;
  • facilitate electronic cross-border or cross-sector interaction between European public administrations on the one hand, and between European public administrations and businesses and citizens on the other,
  • identify, create and operate interoperability solutions supporting the implementation of Union policies and activities;
  • facilitate the re-use of interoperability solutions by European public administrations.

The ISA 2 Programme will take into account:

  • social, economic and other aspects of interoperability, as well as the specific situation of SMEs and micro-enterprises, in order to improve interaction between European public administrations on the one hand, and between European public administrations and businesses and citizens on the other.
  • ensure a common understanding of interoperability through the European Interoperability Framework (EIF) and its implementation in Member States’ administrations.

Amongst the accompanying measures are information, communication of the benefits of the ISA2 Programme, and awareness-raising measures, aimed at European public administrations and, where appropriate, at businesses and citizens.

Activities: the ISA2 Programme will support and promote, inter alia:

  • the development, establishment, bringing to maturity, operation and re-use of new cross-border or cross-sector interoperability solutions and common frameworks ;
  • the identification of legislation gaps, at Union and national level, that hamper cross-border or cross-sector interoperability;
  • the development of mechanisms that measure and quantify the benefits of interoperability solutions including methodologies for assessing cost-savings;
  • the mapping and analysis of the overall interoperability landscape;
  • the establishment and promotion of open specifications and standards through the Union’s standardisation platforms and in cooperation with European or international standardisation organisations as appropriate;
  • the maintenance and publication of a platform allowing access to, and collaboration with regard to, best practices, functioning as a means of raising awareness and disseminating available solutions, including security and safety frameworks, and helping to avoid duplication of efforts while encouraging the reusability of solutions and standards;
  • the identification and promotion of best practices, to develop guidelines to coordinate interoperability initiatives and to animate and support communities working on issues relevant to the area of electronic cross-border or cross-sector interaction between end users.

9 months after the date of entry into force of the Decision, the Commission must develop a communication strategy, aiming to enhance information and increase awareness with regard to the ISA2 Programme and its benefits, targeting businesses, including SMEs, and citizens, and employing user-friendly means on the ISA² Programme's website.

Actions launched under the ISA2 Programme shall comply with the following principles, inter alia: (i) delivery of public services in such a way as to prevent digital divide; (ii) data protection; (iii) administrative simplification and modernisation; (iv) avoidance of duplication ; (v) solutions which, insofar as possible, are future-proof .

Prioritisation: actions that meet the eligibility criteria shall be prioritised in accordance with the following prioritisation criteria: (i) the contribution of the action to the interoperability landscape; (ii) the scope of the action across the sectors concerned; (iii) the geographical reach of the action; (iv) the urgency of the action; (v) the reusability of the action (vi) the re-use by the action of existing common frameworks and elements of interoperability solutions; (vii)  the link of the action with Union initiatives.

Implementation: the Commission shall bring together relevant stakeholders and organise conferences, workshops and other meetings on issues addressed by the ISA 2 Programme. The ISA 2 Programme shall build on the sharing of experience and promote community building activities around frameworks and solutions of common interest, involving relevant stakeholders including non-profit organisations and universities.

The funding of an action may be suspended or terminated in accordance with the results of monitoring and control and based on an assessment of whether the action continues to meet the identified needs, and of the effectiveness and efficiency of the action.