Delving into the governance of cross-border interoperability solutions in the EU

Abstract

The European Union's single market recently celebrated its 30th anniversary. However, unique developments in digital governance have exposed significant barriers to the establishment of a digital single market. One notable challenge is the creation of cross-border digital public services, which is impeded by a lack of interoperability among information systems. Although there have been important advancements toward achieving interoperability, particularly with the development of cross-border interoperability solutions, the governance of these solutions has not been thoroughly examined. This study aims to fill that gap by analysing the governance arrangements of three specific cases: EUCARIS, OOTS, and Peppol. Through an exploratory multi-case study, we identify the governance structures in place and find that network governance is most prevalent, shaped largely by the EU’s regulatory and political context.