EIF assessment: Semantic interoperability

EIF assessment: Semantic interoperability ()

Semantic interoperability ensures that the precise format and meaning of
exchanged data and information is preserved and understood throughout
exchanges between parties, in other words ‘what is sent is what is understood’.
In the EIF, semantic interoperability covers both semantic and syntactic aspects:
• The semantic aspect refers to the meaning of data elements and the
relationship between them. It includes developing vocabularies and schemata
to describe data exchanges, and ensures that data elements are understood
in the same way by all communicating parties;
• The syntactic aspect refers to describing the exact format of the
information to be exchanged in terms of grammar and format.
A starting point for improving semantic interoperability is to perceive data and
information as a valuable public asset.
Source: The New EIF. https://ec.europa.eu/isa2/eif_en
The new European Interoperability Framework (EIF) is part of the Communication (COM(2017)134) from the European Commission adopted on 23 March 2017. The framework gives specific guidance on how to set up interoperable digital public services.



90 EIF principles view



		EIF assessment: Semantic interoperability	Recommendation 30: Perceive data and information as a public asset that should be appropriately generated, collected, managed, shared, protected and preserved.
		EIF assessment: Semantic interoperability	Recommendation 32: Support the establishment of sector-specific and cross-sectoral communities that aim to create open information specifications and encourage relevant communities to share their results on national and European platforms.
		EIF assessment: Semantic interoperability	Recommendation 31: Put in place an information management strategy at the highest possible level to avoid fragmentation and duplication. Management of metadata, master data and reference data should be prioritised.