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EIFEuropean Interoperability Framework

In short

The EIF is the European Commission's framework that guides public administrations so that their digital services work together, including across countries. It organizes interoperability in layers (legal, organisational, semantic and technical) and sets out principles and recommendations. This glossary follows its layers but treats the syntactic aspect as a layer of its own.

Type
Reference model
Steward
European Commission
Current version
2017 (COM(2017) 134)
Reviewed
October 25, 2026

Explanation

What it is

The European Interoperability Framework (EIF) is, in its own words, a commonly agreed approach to the delivery of European public services in an interoperable manner, with common principles, models and recommendations. The version in force as of October 2026 is part of European Commission Communication COM(2017) 134, adopted on 23 March 2017. Earlier versions date from 2004 and 2010.

Its scope is public services: between administrations (A2A), from administrations to businesses (A2B) and from administrations to citizens (A2C). It is not a health-specific framework.

Structure

  • 12 principles, including subsidiarity and proportionality, openness, transparency, reusability, technological neutrality and data portability, user-centricity, security and privacy, and multilingualism.
  • A layered interoperability model.
  • A conceptual model for integrated public services, which promotes "interoperability by design" and relies on information sources such as base registries and open data portals.
  • 47 recommendations spread across the chapters (the 2010 version had 25).

The layered model

PieceWhat it covers according to the EIF
Legal interoperabilityOrganisations operating under different legal frameworks, policies and strategies being able to work together
Organisational interoperabilityAdministrations aligning their business processes, responsibilities and expectations
Semantic interoperabilityThe format and meaning of data being preserved and understood: "what is sent is what is understood"
Technical interoperabilityApplications and infrastructures linking systems: interface specifications, interconnection services, secure communication protocols
Integrated public service governanceCross-cutting component of the four layers: structures, roles, interoperability agreements, change management
Interoperability governanceBackground layer: decisions on frameworks, institutional arrangements, policies and agreements at national and EU level

In the EIF, the semantic layer also covers syntax, that is, the exact format of what is exchanged. This glossary treats that syntactic aspect as a layer of its own.

In health

A paper prepared for the EU eHealth Network in April 2015 proposed an adaptation, the ReEIF, which started from the 2010 EIF and split two layers: organisational into policy and care process, and technical into applications and IT infrastructure. The result is six levels: legal and regulatory, policy, care process, information, applications and IT infrastructure.

Current status

The Interoperable Europe Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/903) entered into force on 11 April 2024. As part of implementing it, the Commission and the Interoperable Europe Board launched a review of the EIF, with consultations that include a call for evidence in 2026. Article 6 of the regulation tasks the Board with developing the EIF and submitting it to the Commission for adoption. Until a new version is adopted, the 2017 version applies.

Common misconceptions

  • Presenting the EIF as a four-layer framework: the model adds two governance pieces.
  • Taking it as a mandatory health standard: it guides public services and does not set clinical standards.

Usage examples

  1. An April 2015 paper for the EU eHealth Network proposed the ReEIF, which adapts the EIF model to health in six levels: legal and regulatory, policy, care process, information, applications and IT infrastructure.

  2. The EIF review was launched as part of implementing the Interoperable Europe Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/903), with a call for evidence in 2026.

  3. The Interoperable Europe Monitoring Mechanism, co-designed by the JRC, DG DIGIT and the Member States, includes EIF implementation in its scope.

  4. According to the EIF, the European Interoperability Reference Architecture (EIRA) is part of interoperability governance at EU level.

  5. EIF Recommendation 27 asks for legislation to be screened through "interoperability checks" and a "digital check" to identify barriers to digital exchange before it is adopted.

Relation to other terms

Relies on1

  • Health interoperabilityRequired

    The EIF defines interoperability and organizes it in layers; without that concept it has no subject.

Depend on this one1

  • EHDSMedium

    Recital 109 asks that the European Interoperability Framework be considered a common reference for the cross-border implementation of the EHDS.

Sources

  1. European Commission — New European Interoperability Framework (2017)interoperable-europe.ec.europa.eu
  2. Interoperable Europe — European Interoperability Framework (detail)interoperable-europe.ec.europa.eu
  3. Interoperable Europe — European Interoperability Framework: versions and adoptioninteroperable-europe.ec.europa.eu
  4. Interoperable Europe — Two years of the Interoperable Europe Act (13 April 2026)interoperable-europe.ec.europa.eu
  5. Interoperable Europe — Monitoring Mechanisminteroperable-europe.ec.europa.eu
  6. eHealth Network — Refinement of the eHealth European Interoperability Framework (ReEIF), April 2015health.ec.europa.eu
  7. EUR-Lex — Regulation (EU) 2024/903 (Interoperable Europe Act)eur-lex.europa.eu
Health interoperability glossary