Croatia among founders of IMPACTS-EDIC, a European consortium for advanced digital transformation

Representatives of European public administrations came together in Athens on 5 March 2026 to officially launch the IMPACTS-EDIC, a new European Digital Infrastructure Consortium

The consortium was launched with the goal of building the foundations for truly connected and barrier-free public administrations for all citizens, to support the clear objectives of the Digital Decade to have all key public services accessible online by 2030.

For a borderless Europe to become a reality on a daily basis, it is necessary to move away from fragmented and isolated IT projects towards a single and interoperable ecosystem is necessary, as the system must be organised before it can be digitalised, as emphasized at the event.
 
The event was organised by the Greek Ministry of Digital Governance, bringing together high-level representatives of founding Member States, observer countries and the European Commission.

IMPACTS-EDIC, the Consortium for Innovative Mass Connected Services for the Transformation of Public Administration, was established at the end of 2025 as a key support to the ambitions of the EU’s Digital Decade, whilst contributing to the effective implementation of the Interoperable Europe Act.

Collaboration on common digital standards

The consortium provides a systematic framework for participating countries to cooperate on the development, testing and deployment of interoperable digital solutions.

The work of the consortium is based on building common digital building blocks, shared infrastructures and open standards.

This approach aims to make public services safer and more accessible across national borders, thus directly strengthening Europe-wide digital sovereignty.

IMPACTS-EDIC will also serve as a platform for the implementation of multi-country projects aimed at providing innovative services tailored to the needs of modern society.

Croatia as an active participant and co-founder

The ceremony in Athens was attended by representatives of the founding members: Greece, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Ukraine and Croatia.

Observers from Cyprus, Finland, Germany, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Romania and Slovenia also joined the assembly.

The groundwork for the IMPACTS-EDIC was laid in 2025 by the INVEST project, in which Croatia participated. The project brought together ten European organisations from seven Member States to support the implementation of the Interoperable Europe Act.

The project focused on strengthening cross-border interoperability through the development of a strategic plan, regulatory framework and stakeholder engagement.

The results of the INVEST project included the implementation of key performance indicators and the development of five high-value areas of application from ensuring cross-border healthcare and the introduction of a European business wallet, through the development of a secure digital identity and the exchange of mobility data, to the comprehensive improvement of eGovernment with accompanying policy recommendations ensuring long-term sustainability and resource efficiency across the European digital ecosystem.

On behalf of the Ministry of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation of the Republic of Croatia, the participants of the IMPACTS-EDIC launch event were addressed by Director General Nikola Modrušan, who presented the national priorities and areas in which Croatia can contribute the most to the work of the consortium.

During the event, the importance of long-term commitment and continuity was highlighted. Philippe Van Damme, Deputy Director-General for Digital Services at the European Commission's DG DIGIT stressed that the sustainability of the initiative depended on the continued commitment of Member States to build strong foundations and maintain expertise. The goal was to make IMPACTS-EDIC “not a one-off project, but a living and evolving driver for digital transformation”, he highlighted.

Future development and technological innovation

Looking ahead, the consortium is expected to play a key role in advancing interoperability across the continent. A special focus will be on developing shared solutions and furthering innovation in areas such as GovTech and AI-ready digital services. By pooling expertise and resources from multiple countries, IMPACTS-EDIC aims to create a lasting framework that will ensure a more connected and efficient European public sector, fit for the challenges of the future.

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