Single Digital Gateway Regulation (SDG)
Regulation (EU) 2018/1724
The Single Digital Gateway Regulation (SDG Regulation) establishes a single digital gateway for citizens and businesses in the European Economic Area (EEA) with the aim of facilitating cross-border access to information, administrative procedures, and support and problem-solving services.
At the heart of the regulation is the “Your Europe” portal, through which users can find information about their rights and obligations in the EEA and complete certain administrative procedures entirely online. This also includes the secure exchange of evidence via the Once-Only Technical System (OOTS), which provides a technical framework for the secure exchange of verified data and documents between public authorities.
The regulation is particularly relevant for:
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Citizens of an EEA country who wish to live, work, study, or use services in another EEA country,
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companies that operate across borders or wish to establish themselves in another member state,
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national authorities that are required to provide information and administrative procedures digitally.
Key Points of the Single Digital Gateway Regulation
1. Unified Digital Access to Information
In accordance with the regulation, the Commission and the EEA states are establishing a single digital gateway for citizens and businesses to facilitate access to information on rights, obligations, and administrative procedures within the EEA single market. The central access point is the “Your Europe” portal, which links to the relevant national information and administrative services.
This is intended to make it easier for citizens and businesses to find important information—such as taking up employment, studying, starting a business, social security, or taxes—across borders. The information is organized by life events or business situations. People can thus quickly understand the various life circumstances and situations they may face in their daily business lives and obtain the necessary information.
2. Obligation to Provide Information
In accordance with the requirements of the SDG Regulation, EEA states must make information from various areas available on their national websites via simple online access.
For example, information on rights and obligations under EEA law and national law, as well as information on digital and analog procedures, must be provided.
3. Full Digitization of Procedures
The Regulation requires EEA states to offer a range of important administrative procedures entirely online. Users should be able not only to initiate procedures electronically but also to complete them digitally. These include, for example, applying for student financial aid, obtaining a certificate of residence, or providing proof of registration in the birth registry. Citizens and businesses should be able to complete such procedures digitally regardless of their location within the EEA.
4. Cross-border and non-discriminatory access
The SDG Regulation requires EEA states to make certain information, administrative procedures, and support services accessible to users from other EEA states as well. Citizens and businesses must not be disadvantaged when using digital administrative services based on their nationality or their place of residence or business.
For example, the regulation stipulates that certain national procedures available online must also be accessible to cross-border users without discriminatory barriers. Users should also be able to access information and step-by-step instructions via the portal explaining how a specific administrative procedure can be carried out and completed online. This information must be available in at least one widely used official language of the EU.
5. Implementation of the “Once-Only” Principle
Through the Once-Only Technical System (OOTS), the SDG Regulation ensures that evidence and documents need to be submitted only once whenever possible and are subsequently exchanged electronically between authorities. This is intended to reduce administrative burdens and improve digital cooperation within the EEA.
6. Support through Assistance and Problem-Solving Services
In addition to information and administrative procedures, the SDG also includes various support and problem-solving services. The EEA States and the Commission ensure that users, including cross-border users, can easily access assistance and problem-solving services online.
The assistance and problem-solving services to be provided include, for example, product information centers, national advisory centers for professional qualifications, and the European Employment Services (EURES). Users can also be referred to SOLVIT via the “Your Europe” portal if they encounter cross-border issues with public authorities while exercising their single market rights.
Impact on Liechtenstein
Regulation (EU) 2018/1724 on the Single Digital Gateway was incorporated into the EEA Agreement by Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No. 333/2022 of December 9, 2022. However, the EEA Decision has not yet entered into force.
The SDG Regulation is supplemented by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1121on the collection and exchange of user statistics and user feedback, as well as by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1463 on the Once-Only Technical System (OOTS). The latter lays the foundation for Liechtenstein’s participation in the OOTS. As a result, users can now be redirected directly from the European “Your Europe” portal to the corresponding online services and procedures on the Liechtenstein National Administration (LLV) service portal.
The Office for Digital Innovation (Stabsstelle für Digitale Innovation; SDI) is responsible for implementing the Single Digital Gateway Regulation. Together with the Office of Information Technology, it acts as the “National Coordinator.” In this role, it serves as the point of contact for the European Commission and is responsible for legal matters, national coordination, and consultation with relevant government Offices and external bodies within the framework of the SDG Regulation.
In 2025, Liechtenstein was admitted to an international working group on the cross-border transmission of birth certificates via the Once-Only Technical System (OOTS). In this working group, several European countries are collaborating on common technical solutions. This collaboration lays the foundation for simpler digital administrative procedures across national borders. One example of its application is enrollment at a foreign university. Now, instead of submitting a scanned copy of their birth certificate, students can initiate the exchange directly through the university portal, and the birth certificate or the relevant information is exchanged directly via the OOTS.
In addition, the SDI represents Liechtenstein’s interests in the Single Digital Gateway Coordination Group.