Awareness of eFTI is high, but are public authorities ready to put it into practice? This summer, the eFTI4LIVE project conducted a capacity-building survey involving 32 respondents from public authorities across 20 EU Member States to better understand their readiness, challenges and training needs ahead of July 2027.
The survey brought together the perspectives of specialists working on legal, governance, IT and other aspects of eFTI implementation. Their responses offer valuable insights that authorities across Europe can use to plan their own capacity-building activities, train staff and support local stakeholders in preparing for eFTI.
Awareness is there. Practical skills are the next challenge.
One of the clearest findings is that raising awareness of eFTI is no longer the main priority among the surveyed authorities. Instead, they need practical knowledge and tools to carry out their responsibilities, particularly when it comes to enforcement, verifying electronic transport information and establishing operational procedures.
Progress is already being made. When asked about their expected technical readiness to receive and verify eFTI data by July 2027, 14 respondents (44%) expect their authorities to be fully operational, while another seven expect to be actively piloting. The remaining respondents anticipate still being at various stages of development or planning, or not yet having started.
However, some challenges cannot be addressed through training alone. 21 out of 32 respondents identified incomplete EU-level documentation and unfinished technical specifications as obstacles to implementation. Within authorities, limited time, budgets and the absence of dedicated internal training functions are creating additional difficulties.
Less theory, more real-life examples!
When asked what kind of support would be most useful, authorities showed a clear preference for practical, experience-based learning.
The most requested forms of support were:
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Real examples and case studies from other authorities – 23 respondents
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Implementation toolkits and practical guides – 18 respondents
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Train-the-trainer packages – 17 respondents
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In-person training, peer exchanges, webinars and field-ready reference tools – each selected by 15 respondents
The message is clear: authorities want to learn not only what needs to be done, but also how others are doing it. These findings can help authorities choose training formats that are useful for their teams and avoid spending limited resources on activities that do not address their most pressing needs.
What about other players in the eFTI ecosystem?
Although the survey focused on public authorities, respondents also identified capacity-building needs among other stakeholders.
For transport operators, shippers and carriers, the priority is understanding the practical benefits of eFTI and how to get started. ICT developers and system integrators need clearer technical specifications and integration documentation, while eFTI platform providers would benefit from greater clarity on certification requirements and testing against national eFTI Gates.
These differences are worth keeping in mind when planning national training and outreach activities. A one-size-fits-all approach is unlikely to work equally well for enforcement officers, IT teams and transport companies.
Turning survey findings into action
So, what should public authorities do with these findings?
The survey points to four practical priorities that can help authorities across Europe strengthen their capacity-building efforts and prepare their teams for eFTI:
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Make enforcement guidance practical. Develop easy-to-use materials explaining officers’ powers, penalties and procedures for checking electronic transport information. Enforcement-related knowledge was the weakest area identified in the survey.
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Make training easier to organise internally. Prepare train-the-trainer packages that allow authorities to train their own staff without relying on external specialists. This is particularly relevant as 31% of respondents reported having no internal training function.
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Learn from those already ahead. Collect and share real-life case studies from authorities further along in their eFTI implementation. This was the most requested form of support, selected by 23 out of 32 respondents.
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Connect authorities across borders. Establish opportunities for regular peer learning and knowledge exchange between Member States. Only 31% of respondents reported having established cross-border coordination.
Alongside these training priorities, authorities should also consider appointing a dedicated eFTI lead, developing a readiness plan, strengthening national coordination and testing their systems in practice. Unresolved questions about EU-level specifications and documentation should also be raised systematically with the relevant bodies.
These recommendations are not just for the eFTI4LIVE project. Authorities across the EU can use them as a starting point for their own capacity-building plans, identifying who needs training, what practical skills are missing and how best to prepare their staff and local stakeholders for eFTI.
If you would like more information about the survey findings, please contact team@eftiexperts.eu
