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<h2 class="h3">The Once-Only view from Finland</h2>
<p>In May 2023, we discussed the Finnish implementation of the Once-Only Technical System (OOTS) with Olli Hurskainen, Mervi Kylmänen-Paakki and Kirsi Mikkonen from Development and Administrative Services Centre (KEHA-Centre).</p>
<p>The team shared their thoughts on working on such a large cross-border project, the nature of digitalisation and responding to continuous changes to the technological and regulatory situation and how OOTS Projectathons are helping them make maximum progress.</p>
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<h3 class="h4h5">Once-Only Technical System</h3>
<p>The Once-Only Technical System connects EU public authorities, so they can exchange official documents and data at the citizen’s request. It puts into practice the Once-Only Principle, which states that citizens should not be forced to provide information to authorities if another authority already holds that information (certificates, credentials, or licenses, for example, known as ‘evidence’) in electronic format. The legal deadline for the implementation of the Once-Only Technical System is 12 December 2023.</p>
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<p>Ensuring that the quality of the system, and service, is a high priority for Jonathan: “<strong>we really must always keep in mind the experience of the end user. That's what drives everything in fact</strong>”. Jonathan reiterated his commitment to keep “high availability and high performance”. This is the key to building an even more ambitious system. “<strong>Because we want to be able to say to other [EU Member] States and to tell the European Commission that we are working for the [European] citizen. We want that when citizens connect, will have a satisfaction that this will enable politicians to engage more funds to develop this digital Europe</strong>”.</p>
<h3 class="h4">The European perspective</h3>
<p>Jonathan sees great value in the impact of the Once-Only Technical System for Europe and its citizens. With a legal deadline approaching rapidly, the teams implementing this system are under great pressure to meet this important deadline. However, there is also lots of optimism. Especially as regards Europe’s wider digital ambitions. We asked Jonathan about his opinion on the state of the digitalisation of public services in France. With an unmistakable air of positivity, he underlined the central importance of “ensuring that administrations can exchange data with each other more easily and so make life easier for French citizens”.</p>
<!--COLS--><h3 class="h4">The European perspective</h3>
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<p>Digitalisation is nothing new in Finland, with the Nordic country ranking number one in <a href="https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/desi" target="_blank">the 2022 European Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI)</a> of Member States. In this context, the team felt confident about Finland’s overall position in terms of the digitalisation of public services.</p>
<p>For the Finnish team, the true value of the Once-Only Technical System is the cross-border component.</p>
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<q>The situation varies, some procedures are done completely digitally, and then there might be some low-volume procedures [with lower levels of digitalisation]</q>
<strong class="d-block">Kirsi Mikkonen</strong>
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<p>Regulation <a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32018R1724&from=EN" target="_blank">(EU)2018/1724</a> on the Single Digital Gateway sets out 21 specific administrative procedures for which users should be able to transmit authentic evidence types in different areas, from running cross-border businesses to studying or retiring in other EU countries. “We have already been moving in a direction similar to that of the EU. But the SDG did bring some new ideas and approaches on how to proceed, especially in the cross-border context”, noted Kirsi.</p>
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<p>He considers the legal deadline of December 2023 more as opportunity than a threat. He notes that “in reality, no one is forcing us to look at the European text [<a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-<h3 class="h5">Single Digital Gateway Regulation</h3>
<p>The Single Digital Gateway Regulation <a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32018R1724&from=EN" target="_blank">((EU) 2018/1724<1724) (SDGR)</a>] asis a constraint. <strong>I, personally, do not look at the European text as a constraint. I'm like, wow, it's a great springboard. That's leverage, it's great</strong>. We're going to build on that. But others must also have the same thought. They must be able to mobilise the resources and getting politics to come to support all development”multifaceted EU-wide initiative that strives to create the digital infrastructure required to overcome these challenges. It aims to help citizens and businesses make best of the Single Market. Article 14 of the Single Digital Gateway Regulation (EU)2018/1724 mandates the creation of the Once-Only Technical System.</p>
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<q>The Once-<p>The Once-Only Technical System can bring a new European network in terms of data exchange between governments and maybe even between citizens afterwards.</q>
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<p>He continues that “<strong>It's an exceptional opportunity that opens to us. It mobilises all the Member States at the same time. The Internet is proof that we can do things internationally if everyone understands the value of doing so</strong>”. For Jonathan, “the Once-Only Technical System can bring a new European network in terms of data exchange between governments and maybe even between citizens afterwards. By extension, even if it is necessary to make a forward-looking effort of vision. That's what we need to develop, and for me anyway, this is what I carry as a message within the [SDG coordination <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/expert-groups-register/screen/expert-groups/consult?lang=en&do=groupDetail.groupDetail&groupID=3639" target="_blank">group</a>]”.</p>
<p>Jonathan see’s the Once-Only Technical System, and projects like it, part of what can make Europe a true digital global leader. “<strong>The Same people who will make the European data centre, these will be the same people who will develop maybe a European Google</strong>”. He continued “<strong>We start with the procedures relating to citizens, but then can extend this initiative to [other] use cases</strong>”. Europe’s strength is that it is different countries cooperating. Reusing common solutions, like digital building blocks, to make common investments and save time and resources. But it only works “if we manage to communicate this European ambition”.</p>
<p>For Jonathan, Europe’s ability to innovate and cooperate is its strength. But he feels that regulating alone is not enough. “<strong>We must dare to change the rules of the game. We must dare to change the Technological paradigm […] If Europe can concentrate on Disruptive innovations, we change the rules of the game and we get involved creates a de facto advance rather than seeking to catch up</strong>”.</p>
<p>His message is undeniably positive: “<strong>Europe deserves to make a technological new start, rather than feeling like it always lags behind […] This is a policy that must be pursued at the European level”. He further notes that “We must not make the mistake of bringing this back to a national level. I think we really need to mobilise this vision and put it on a European scale</strong>”.</p>
<h3 class="h4">Implementation in France</h3>
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<p>We than spoke about the status of the Once-Only implementation in France. Showing the determination that will be fundamental to realising a project as the Once-Only Technical System, Jonathan says that France takes this challenge as an opportunity, asking himself how to reach this goal stands to benefit EU citizens and businesses whenever they need to provide evidence (such as certificates or diplomas) when performing administrative processes frequently encountered when moving or doing business in another EU Member State. But, according to Olli Hurskainen, this can also innovate the work of the competent authorities (that lawfully issue evidence) connected through the Once-Only Technical System: “competent authorities have to think that you can use any given services in the whole EU single market and not just Finland”. “This has really brought the Single Market into centre stage” concluded Kirsi, reflecting on how Once-Only leverages on interconnectivity to help people make the most of Europe’s Single Market.</p>
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<h3 class="h5">Competent authority</h3>
<p>Competent authority means any Member State authority or body established at national, regional or local level with specific responsibilities relating to the information, procedures, assistance and problem-solving services covered by the SDGR</p>
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<h3 class="h4">Implementation in Finland</h3>
<p>This team is clearly one that takes a lot of pride in their work, happy to acknowledge success and plan how to overcome future challenges. “There are challenges that come from working on such a large-scale project, but this is also positive and inspiring” observed Mervi Kylmänen-Paakki. “[We have] always been enthusiastic, but it is also important to keep one-step ahead where possible and be very proactive”.</p>
<p>A notable example of this proactivity is ensuring an open dialogue with the competent authorities who actually provide or receive the evidence in question. “We have tried to be very open about our experiences and thoughts”, noted Mervi. “We are very open with our competent authorities. We present the Regulation to others [competent authorities] and discuss with them on how we can do that”, added Kirsi, reflecting on the need to explain the benefits of the Once-Only Technical System to the various public authorities who will actually be connected through this Technical System.</p>
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<p>We asked what the response from these authorities was like. “Reactions vary with dealing with something like [the] SDG [Regulation]. They are excited and can see the benefits. Municipalities ultimately see everything through [the lenses of] money and resources. They can – and need – to see that they can benefit from something like the SDG/OOTS. This also means such authorities [can advertise] their services EU-wide, which is especially interesting for smaller administrations”, concluded Mervi.</p>
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<q>Europe deserves to make a technological new start, rather than feeling like it always lags behind […] This is a policy that must be pursued at the European level</q><q>We see the benefits, “Finland is a country that needs to import and export”, reflecting how the Once-Only Technical System helps build a Single Market helping open economies like Finland’s remain competitive.</q>
<strong class="d-block">Olli Hurskainen</strong>
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<p>He<p>For furthermany explained that his organisationpublic authorities, DINUM,the isimplementation atof the heartOnce-Only ofTechnical coordinatingSystem effortsis byan variousopportunity Frenchto ministriestake stock and differentlook at jurisdictionshow inthey themight implementationrefine oftheir theown OOTSoperations. The“We Once-Onlyalso Technicaltry Systemto representsoffer a[the substantialcompetent workloadauthorities] bothsolutions. forTo DINUMhelp andfind foreasier theways Frenchto administrations,solve whoseproblems involvement,and cooperation,improve and responsiveness are essential. While common goals are of course understood, how to get there is not always so clear, with DINUM facilitating coordination in this area. DINUM is developing and at the same time implementing the Once-Only Technical System, while national administrations will need to develop national procedures.</p>
<p>For Jonathan, the Once-Only Technical System has great potential to fundamentally change Europe’s digital destiny by enabling Europe-wide interoperability beyond the 21 procedures of Annex II of the SDGR1. He stressed that from the view of the French government, the Once-Only Technical System is a way to “develop a digital gateway to Europe”. He observed that “<strong>there are obviously procedures that are identified by the Single Digital Gateway Regulation</strong> [SDGR (EU) 2018/1724], <strong>but what we also look at the potential behind the Once-Only Technical System, like openness, interoperability, [data]sharing, how to generally ease the ability of Europeans to move around Europe</strong>”.</p>
<p>Jonathan noted that digital transformation is a top priority for the French government, as well as a strong European agenda. This is the political backdrop for operating on the three: levels political, business and technical. Once cannot succeed without the other. He further noted that the implementation of the Once-Only Technical System requires an Agile methodology to be successful. Any project that takes place at these levels, must run in parallel with other projects and initiatives. Only this way, he noted, one can address problems without losing too much ground – a truly agile way of working.</p>
<p>We thanked Jonathan for his time and the conversation.</p>
<p style="margin-top:2.5rem;"><i>Interviews with national implementers are a unique chance to look beyond the technical cross-border interconnection of digital services in Europe and get to know the architects of our digital Europe and what motivates them.</i></p>
<p><strong>Thomas Fillis & Michael Ulrich, Once-Only Technical System Team (DIGIT-EXT)</strong></p>
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their services”</p>
<p>Another area where the Finnish team have taken a proactive approach has been Proofs of Concepts (PoC) pilots project. “This has really helped us take steps forward. Help from this group has been very important, in terms of development and testing”, noted Mervi. “You see this in the Projectathons”, she continued. “The [April] Projectathon was a fantastic opportunity to talk to other Member States and the Commission. We got a lot out of it. We had done some testing already with Sweden and Estonia, but this really helped to take testing further and find solutions”, added Kirsi. We asked if they are ready for the next round. “Yes, we will be joining in June”.</p>
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<h3 class="h5">Proofs of Concepts (PoC) pilots project</h3>
<p>A group of Nordic and Baltic countries are working together on the <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/digital-building-blocks/sites/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=622625278" target="_blank">‘Single Digital Gateway Once-Only Principle (OOP) Proofs of Concepts (PoC) pilots project’</a>, funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Cross Border Digital Services Programme.</p>
<p>The PoC pilots project is mapping specific evidences to the 21 specific procedures, piloting six specific PoCs. All development work on specific components is open source, meaning other Member States and teams can reuse the same components in their implementations.</p>
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<h3 class="h5">Projectathon</h3>
<p>Projectathons are large-scale testing sessions allowing national implementation teams to test their implementation s of the Once-Only Technical System in a safe environment. This includes peer-to-peer testing of the retrieval, transmission, and reception of evidence.</p>
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<p>We asked what they thought the likely challenges would be going forward. “There will be challenges, but not dependent on us [the team]. Regarding eIDAS and some legal questions, they will be solved in due course”, noted Kirsi. “It is the first time we are building a cross-sectoral ecosystem. We hope that the Once-Only will be the backbone of information exchange across Europe, much wider than the scope that we currently have”, said Kirsi, reflecting on the 21 procedures listed in the Single Digital Gateway Regulation. “This might be the first time that an EU Regulation actually lists the procedures that must be digitalised”, she said, noting that these 21 procedures represented just the start and that the system should eventually be expanded.</p>
<p>Finally, we asked the team about their thoughts on how best to future-proof an infrastructure like the Once-Only Technical System. “No technical system is ever ready, but updates consistently with new changes”, noted Kirsi. “When the system is more mature, we can adapt to new ideas and new technologies”.</p>
<p>In the more immediate term, the team see the value of synergies with other transformative European initiatives, such as the European Digital Identity wallet (EUDI). “We hope that the OOTS and EUDI will be sister systems, and that in future we use OOTS for more proactive services, not just where user that needs to know [which procedure to undertake]. We can offer them certain procedures either beforehand or at the right moment, such as smart services that already fetch some data to fill-in the form. Let’s see all the benefits that we can have.”</p>
<p>We thanked Olli, Mervi and Kirsi for their time and the conversation.<br>
Interviews with national implementers are a unique chance to look beyond the technical cross-border interconnection of digital services in Europe and get to know the architects of our digital Europe and what motivates them.</p>
<p><strong>Thomas Fillis & Michael Ulrich, Once-Only Technical System Team (DIGIT-EXT)</strong></p>
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