Conference on Security of eGovernment – Brussels, February 19th 2013

Interoperability for Cross-Border Services Delivery

-is it still a problem?

Walter Castelnovo Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences

University of Insubria

Conference on Security of eGovernment – Brussels, February 19th 2013

The long path toward cross-border interoperability

Conference on Security of eGovernment – Brussels, February 19th 2013

Report on the conclusions of the Sandham Conference (2001)

(…) To implement e-government services an agreed interoperability framework for Europe is a pre-requisite. This is required to underpin the fast and efficient development of e-services. In addition to technology, this framework must also address both procedures and content.

The long path toward cross-border interoperability

Conference on Security of eGovernment – Brussels, February 19th 2013

European eGovernment Action Plan 2011-2015 (2011)

European Commission’s main responsibility is to improve the conditions for development of cross-border eGovernment services provided to citizens and businesses regardless of their country of origin. This includes establishing pre-conditions, such as interoperability, eSignatures and eIdentification.

The long path toward cross-border interoperability

Conference on Security of eGovernment – Brussels, February 19th 2013

What interoperability is about

Definition of interoperability (EIF 2004)

Interoperability means the ability of information and communication technology (ICT) systems and of the business processes they support to exchange data and to enable the sharing of information and knowledge.

Conference on Security of eGovernment – Brussels, February 19th 2013

What interoperability is about

Dimensions of interoperability (EIF 2004/2010)

Technical interoperability

This covers the technical aspects of linking information systems. It includes key aspects such as open interfaces, interconnection services, data integration services and middleware, data presentation and exchange, accessibility and security services.

Conference on Security of eGovernment – Brussels, February 19th 2013

What interoperability is aboutDimensions of interoperability (EIF 2004/2010)Semantic interoperabilityit encompasses two aspects: (i) Semantic interoperability: is about the

meaning of data elements and the relationship between them. It includes developing vocabulary to describe data exchanges, and ensures that data elements are understood in the same way by communicating parties.

(ii) Syntactic interoperability is about describing the exact format of the information to be exchanged in terms of grammar, format and schemas.

Conference on Security of eGovernment – Brussels, February 19th 2013

What interoperability is aboutDimensions of interoperability (EIF 2004/2010)

Organizational interoperabilityOrganizational interoperability is concerned with how public administrations in different Member States cooperate to achieve their mutually agreed goals. Organisational interoperability implies integrating business processes and related data exchange. Organisational interoperability also aims to meet the requirements of the user community by making services available, easily identifiable, accessible and user-focused

Conference on Security of eGovernment – Brussels, February 19th 2013

What interoperability is aboutDimensions of interoperability (EIF 2010)

Legal interoperabilityLegal interoperability amounts to the alignment of the different legislations so that the legal validity of the information exchanged to provide cross-border services is maintained across borders and data protection legislation in both originating and receiving countries is respected.

Conference on Security of eGovernment – Brussels, February 19th 2013

What interoperability is about

Dimensions of interoperability (EIF 2010)

Political contextPolitical support is necessary for cross-border interoperability efforts to facilitate cooperation among public administrations. For effective cooperation, all stakeholders involved must share visions, agree on objectives and align priorities.

Conference on Security of eGovernment – Brussels, February 19th 2013

Is interoperability still a problem?Digital Agenda for Europe (2010)

Conference on Security of eGovernment – Brussels, February 19th 2013

Is interoperability still a problem?

Action 27

Member States to implement Malmö and Granada declara-tions

Action 26 Member States to implement European Interopera-bility Framework

Conference on Security of eGovernment – Brussels, February 19th 2013

How to achieve interoperability (EIF 2010)Formalise cooperation arrangements in interoperability agreements (for each level of interoperability).

Is interoperability still a problem?

At legal level, agreements are rendered specific and binding via legislationAt organisational level, agreements can take the form of MoUs or SLAsAt semantic level, agreements can take the form of reference taxonomies, schemes, code lists, data dictionaries, sector-based libraries and so forthAt technical level, agreements include interface specifications, communication protocols, messaging specifications, data formats, security specifications or dynamic registration and service discovery specifications

Conference on Security of eGovernment – Brussels, February 19th 2013

Problem

Is interoperability still a problem?

In Europe, most public services (not only eGovernment services) are provided at a city or regional level by Municipalities or Regional Institutions

Is the signing of cooperation/interoperability agreements enough to guarantee interoperability over time at all level of government?

Conference on Security of eGovernment – Brussels, February 19th 2013

Is interoperability still a problem?

Average number of inhab-itants:

5630

Conference on Security of eGovernment – Brussels, February 19th 2013

• different legislations • different strategies • different priorities • different objectives• different administrative

traditions• different management

styles • different procedures• different work practices • different public servants’

skills• different languages

Beyond EIF’s interoperabilitySources of heterogeneity (within and among MS) Legal

interoperability

Political “interoperabilit

y”

Organizational interoperability

Different from the EIF’s

“organizational” interoperability

Conference on Security of eGovernment – Brussels, February 19th 2013

Beyond EIF’s interoperabilityHow organizational heterogeneity impacts cross-border services

• Top-down interoperability governance and adoption

• Online delivery of cross-border services that require some offline activities to be performed (exchange of paper mail or personal visits)

• Offline delivery of cross-border services, as required by the principles of inclusion and accessibility

Conference on Security of eGovernment – Brussels, February 19th 2013

The (online and offline) delivery of seamless cross-border services requires different public administrations not only to share information efficiently and effectively, but also to operate in a so seamlessly integrated way to be perceived as parts of a single (virtual and

networked) system of European public administrations.

Beyond EIF’s interoperabilityOrganizational interoperability

organizational compatibility (organizational interoperability)

Conference on Security of eGovernment – Brussels, February 19th 2013

organizational compatibility

Beyond EIF’s interoperability

organizational interoperability (as defined, for instance, in the context of joint and multinational military operations)

Cooperabilitynon-technical interoperability aiming at the

successful bridging of differences in doctrine, organization, concepts of

operation, and culture so that different organizations can function together

essentially as a single organization with no loss in effectiveness

Conference on Security of eGovernment – Brussels, February 19th 2013

Strengthening inter-organizational (cross-border) cooperation• allows increased efficiency and effectiveness

in the (online and offline) delivery of cross-border services, which represents a value for the users of those services.

• allows European citizens to interact with public administrations in different Member States as if they were all members of a (virtually) integrated and networked system of European public administrations, which contributes to strengthening the European citizens’ perception of living and working in a single Market.

Beyond EIF’s interoperabilityWhy pursuing organizational interoperability?