Governance

Once only

Principle to avoid repeated data entry across administrations.

How the laws define this

Both framework definitions agree that public bodies must collect citizen and business information only once, reusing that data across government systems to eliminate duplicate submissions, lower administrative burdens, and boost service delivery and efficiency. The key distinction between these instruments lies in their technical requirements and procedural safeguards. Italia Digitale 2026 (National Digital Strategy / Italy Digital 2026) explicitly specifies the technical mechanism for data reuse, mandating the use of shared APIs and data standards to drive administrative interoperability. Conversely, the National Data Strategy—aligned with national AI and quantum strategies under 'Accelerating Digital Sovereignty 2030'—emphasizes compliance boundaries, explicitly requiring public authorities to maintain data protection safeguards during subsequent data reuse across systems. While Italia Digitale 2026 focuses on technical standardization to enable sharing, the National Data Strategy pairs administrative reuse with explicit data protection safeguards.

Synthesised from the 2 statutory definitions below. Each one is quoted in full, with its source.

How jurisdictions differ

What is distinctive in each definition, binding law in force first.

Jurisdiction	Instrument	Status	What is distinctive
Italy	Italy Digital 2026	Adopted	This definition adds technical implementation details like shared APIs and data standards, and ties it to reducing administrative burden and improving interoperability, unlike the other which emphasizes data protection safeguards.
Luxembourg	National Data Strategy (aligned with the national AI and quantum strategies — 'Accelerating Digital Sovereignty 2030')	Adopted	This definition adds emphasis on data protection safeguards alongside efficiency gains, and frames it as an implementation objective within a national data strategy, unlike the first which specifies technical mechanisms.

What it triggers

Italy Digital 2026 sets a national target for administrations to share and reuse citizen and business data so users need not submit the same information multiple times.source
The Luxembourg National Data Strategy sets an implementation objective for public sector bodies to enable reuse of information provided once across government systems.source

Definitions (2)

A data‑reuse principle requiring administrations to share and reuse citizen and business data so that users need not submit the same information multiple times to different public bodies. The approach is intended to reduce administrative burden and improve interoperability through shared APIs and data standards.

Italia Digitale 2026 (National Digital Strategy / Italy Digital 2026)Definition 1 of 2

An administrative principle and implementation objective whereby citizens and businesses provide certain information to the public administration only once, with subsequent reuse across government systems to reduce duplication, increase efficiency, and improve service delivery while ensuring data protection safeguards.

National Data Strategy (aligned with the national AI and quantum strategies — 'Accelerating Digital Sovereignty 2030')Definition 2 of 2

Not to be confused with

Once‑Only Principle (OOP)

The Once-Only Principle (OOP) is a specific named principle focused on citizens and businesses providing information only once, while this term is a general principle to avoid repeated data entry.

one-time-only

'One-time-only' specifically states citizens provide data to the state only once for reuse, whereas this term applies more broadly to avoiding repeated data entry across administrations.

Questions and answers

What does the Once Only principle require in Italy?

Italy Digital 2026 adopts the principle whereby administrations share and reuse citizen and business data via shared APIs and data standards. It aims to reduce administrative burden and improve interoperability. This is part of the national digital strategy with targets for 2026.

How is the Once Only principle implemented in Luxembourg?

The National Data Strategy establishes it as an objective for citizens and businesses to provide information only once, with reuse across systems to boost efficiency and service delivery. It includes data protection safeguards. The strategy launched the Luxembourg Data Factory.

What are the goals of the Once Only principle in these policies?

Both policies aim to reduce duplication and administrative burden by enabling data reuse. Italy focuses on interoperability through APIs, while Luxembourg stresses efficiency, service improvement, and data protection.