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

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.