The Once-Only Principle Project (TOOP) ended on 31 March 2021.
TOOP was launched in January 2017 as an initiative of about 50 organisations from 20 EU Member States and Associated Countries. The main objective of TOOP was to explore and demonstrate the once-only principle on a cross-border pan-European scale, focusing on reducing the administrative burden of businesses.
One of the main tasks of the TOOP project is to ensure the take-up of TOOP results and achieve their long-term sustainability. The members of TOOP set during the final phase of the project a special focus on these sustainability aspects. To fulfil the requirements and based on best practice experiences of previous large scale project the specific organisation ONCE-ONLY.ORG was established. ONCE-ONLY.ORG is an international non-profit association under Belgium law (AISBL) and implemented as part of the sustainability strategy for the TOOP project.
The European Commission is carrying out the preparatory work for the entry into force of the SDG Once Only Technical System, which is set to be in place and ready for use by 12 December 2023. The overall objective is to set up a technical system for the cross-border automated exchange of evidence and application of the Once Only Principle. This will allow citizens and businesses to request any official evidence, required by an administration as part of several key online procedures, to be exchanged directly between administrations, even in different Member States.
Since TOOP comes closer to an end we are focusing more on how to maintain the results of the project. TOOP is currently working on the sustainability model for the artefacts that have been developed within the project.
Implementing the Single Digital Gateway Regulation and promoting cross-border implementation of the once-only principle are the objectives indicated in the Berlin Declaration.
In 2020 TOOP has successfully continued its work to implement the once-only principle in Europe.
TOOP cuts bureaucratic red tape using the once-only principle.
The TOOP project has been extended and will continue its operation until 31 January 2021.
The special connectathon took place on 16th September 2020.
On 23rd September 2020 the TOOP Project presented its latest achievements during the web conference