Action clusters
Trusted information exchange
While seamless data exchange is becoming ever more important in Europe, there is a need for agreements and guidance in this area both at the European Commission and Member State levels that ensure that the information is exchanged in a secure and trustworthy manner. The cluster Trusted information exchange tackles the challenges posed by the different administrative, technical and legal backgrounds of the Member States, which can hinder the smooth and secure transfer of data.
The cluster deals with information that is exchanged cross-border, typically taking place in sector specific projects. The cluster addresses topics such as semantics, information availability and usage, trust and privacy, and the catalogue of services. Go to cluster actions
Interoperability architecture
The Interoperability architecture cluster aims to further align cross-border and cross-sector IT infrastructures that are already available. Creating an interoperability architecture cannot be done overnight. It requires solid, long-term planning and communication. Developments need to take into account the impact on all transactions between the systems involved.
The cluster addresses a broad range of activities:
- Agreeing upon common architecture guidelines
- Creating the architecture itself
- Supporting the maintenance of the architecture
- Identifying and developing common building blocks.
Assessment of the ICT implications of new EU legislation
Nowadays almost all implementation of new EU legislation requires the support of IT systems, e.g. for the exchange of information between authorities across borders or for the delivery of online public services to citizens. Consideration of ICT implications early in the drafting procedure will ensure a timely implementation of legislation and offers the possibility of reusing and adapting existing solutions as much as possible. Go to cluster action
Accompanying measures
In order to support the success of the other cluster actions, accompanying measures are set up. Typically, these are horizontal measures. Raising and ensuring awareness is one of the key tasks, as well as ensuring the recognition of interoperability as a cornerstone for building public services. The accompanying measures will ensure collaboration and communication amongst the stakeholders. Actions in this cluster address the sharing of best practice and supporting communities. This will be done by providing the necessary tools, platforms, campaigns and support to the communities. Go to cluster actions
-
"One should focus on the processes, one should ensure that you optimise the services you provide. The semantics and technical details will follow."
Adam Arndt
Special Adviser, Danish National IT and Telecom Agency -
"The initiatives that attract the attention of citizens come at local and regional level. That's where the challenge is: to have a framework where these services can be developed at a local level but then be exploited at a national and Union level."
Declan Deasy
Director, DG Informatics, European Commission -
"The EU Commission is doing a great job…but its not yet enough: it really depends on the individuals and on the willingness of the people to make their information available and to communicate with each other."
Stefan Decker
Director of the Digital Enterprise Research Institute, Ireland
-
-
"We would like to foster more collaboration between the Member States. We know that it exists, however we think that electronic cooperation between the Member States can bring additional value both to the Member State administrations and to the citizens and businesses."
Polina Mosheva
ISA Programme Manager, DG Informatics, European Commission -
"The key challenges in Europe are just like in the United States. It’s changing the cultural mindset, it’s making it happen, it’s getting people out of their silos, out of their silos."
Dr Brad Niemann
Director and Senior Data Scientist at Semantic Community USA -
"If we really want to promote semantic interoperability, we should not only concentrate on promoting technologies. But we should also try to promote what is at the core of semantic interoperability, which is basically common agreements."
Vasilios Peristeras
ISA Programme Manager, DG Informatics, European Commission
-
-
"Practically in local government, unlike central government, everybody’s got their day jobs, there are very few specialists, so you really have to make a business case for people to get involved. You have to show them something works, you have to provide the tools for them."
Mike Thacker
Technical Director at Porism Limited, UK -
"Interestingly, we find where we provide web-based tools and web-based standards such as standard vocabularies, standard algorithms, it’s actually the smaller municipalities that make most use of those because they don’t have their own internal infrastructure."
Mike Thacker
Technical Director at Porism Limited, UK
-