National Interoperability Framework Observatory: Empowering digital cooperation across Europe

The National Interoperability Framework Observatory (NIFO) is an initiative by the European Commission aimed at enhancing digital cooperation across Europe. By providing a comprehensive overview of interoperability activities, NIFO supports the alignment of national frameworks under the Interoperable Europe initiative, previously the European Interoperability Framework. This alignment fosters seamless digital interactions and cooperation among public administrations in EU Member States. 

NIFO’s role extends beyond an observational one. It engages with 35 European countries to ensure that interoperability standards are not only met but also continuously showcased. With its Digital Policy Hub, NIFO provides easy access to information and resources from each Member State on digital public administration factsheets and country case studies. For example, this Dutch infographic shows the state of play of interoperability in the Netherlands compared to the EU average. 

Additionally, NIFO hosts an interoperability at national level page. Here, each country’s interoperability initiatives are displayed, along with the responsible parties for interoperability policies. The ‘good practices’ section provides examples related to NIFO themes, one of which is data openness. A featured initiative from Italy involves making data generated for public contracts available as open data, while Portugal hosts the MOSAICO webportal that promotes the usage of open data by providing easily accessible information. The data.europa.eu portal plays a significant role in this open data ecosystem by providing a single point of access to a vast array of public data from across Europe. 

Looking ahead, NIFO continues to be a facilitator in Europe’s digital future. As public administrations increasingly rely on interoperable systems, the benefits of NIFO’s work will become even more visible, leading to a more connected and efficient digital Europe. 

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