Building blocks for achieving interoperability

Building Blocks - Reusable Open Digital Solutions
The concept of building blocks for achieving interoperability enables modular components of infrastructure or software solutions to be combined and interconnected to achieve interoperability between different systems or applications.
Interoperability is the ability of different systems, applications or organizations to communicate with each other, exchange data and share resources in a way that is consistent, efficient and secure.

Building blocks are open, standards-based, and reusable digital solutions that enable basic capabilities, such as reliable authentication and secure data exchange. They offer basic capabilities that can be used in any European project to facilitate the provision of digital cross-border public services.

Building blocks for achieving interoperability enable flexibility and scalability in the development and implementation of interoperable solutions. They can be built using standard interfaces, protocols or technologies that enable compatibility and communication between different systems.

Building blocks or modules, according to REGULATION (EU) no. 283/2014 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL of 11 March 2014 on guidelines for trans-European networks in the field of telecommunications infrastructure and repealing Decision no. 1336/97/EC), represent "basic infrastructures of digital services that are key factors that are reused in more complex infrastructures of digital services".

The existence of building blocks is a prerequisite for the development of electronic services on digital infrastructure. The advantage of using building blocks is that they allow organizations to build or extend their systems using already existing components that have already proven their interoperability. They also facilitate faster and cheaper development cycles, as teams can focus on adding new functionality rather than reinventing the entire system.

Examples of such blocks may include web services, APIs (Application Programming Interfaces), standardized data formats or software libraries that facilitate data exchange and integration.

The existing Connecting Europe Facility (CEF Building Blocks) building blocks are:

1. eDelivery,
2. eID,
3. eInvoicing,
4. eSignature,
5. Once-Only Principle (OOP),
6. eTranslation, 

Through the links below, you will find useful information about other interesting initiatives that support the digital transformation of public administrations: 

1. BDTI,
2. Context Broker,
3. eArchiving, 
4. EBSI