1. Views of France on CEFACT By Jean-Pierre Henninot France HoD at CEFACT Plenary

2. CEFACT Plenary-2008-French views Administration’s view Ensuring overall interoperability The French administration has a commitment to promote the use of information technology in all aspects of society Ways are ● R&D programs (national and European Union level) ● Initiatives towards specific categories (TIC et PME) ● Develop all aspects of eAdministration and insure internal and external compatibility ● Use ICTs is key factor for a more efficient administration towards citizens ● Administration must provide an interface with all persons and also build the best information system as possible; ● Due to the different levels involved (national, regional and local) a true national “standardization” process has to be managed a key condition: ● refer to the most generic and recognised standards (CEFACT and ISO mainly)

3. CEFACT Plenary-2008-French views Main practical initiatives taken-1 Presence in different key standardisation bodies:  CEFACT: good level of overall representation and participation One chair of a PG and 4 chairs of TBG WGs Admin engaged in TBG19 (eAdministration) but also TBG4 (Customs), health, agriculture…  Europe : Member of IDABC steering bodies  Involvement in CEN/ISSS/ WSeBES activities  Engaged in CEN/ISSS WS EEG13 (eAdministration)

4. CEFACT Plenary-2008-French views Main practical initiatives taken-2 At national level:  Supporting program TIC-PME (2006-2009): help SMEs to incorporate electronic exchanges in processes mutual exchanges includes specific actions for referring to existing standards while developing candidate standards if required effective promotion of CEFACT standards  eAdministration Establish and maintain a reference for all administrative actors Organise participation in international works (eArchiving, ePP, Administrative semantic components …)

5. CEFACT Plenary-2008-French views Key issues seen in CEFACT activities-1 Advantages: Global presence and recognition Structure and methods of work provide a unique way for addressing the complexity Key deliverables for interoperability :  Methods UMM, CCTS, XML Naming and Design rules  Standards: BRS, RSM, CCL, XML schemas Openness of the participation towards all actors Makes possible to improve semantic compatibility (administration/private partners)

6. CEFACT Plenary-2008-French views Key issues seen in CEFACT activities-2 Challenges Permanent effort needed to manage and solve “conflicts” that reflect the complexity Need to regularly revise the model and the operations (e.g. maintenance of standards, insure modelling/semantic consistency when starting new subjects…) Insufficient tools in communication, capacity building and internal exchange  Hampers CEFACT capacity to speed up the production while insuring consistency Insufficient collaboration with regional authorities  A common objective?: to promote CEFACT production through regional initiatives Rather “unfair” concurrence from certain forums, detrimental for overall convergence

7. CEFACT Plenary-2008-French views Key issues seen in CEFACT activities-3 Practical application in trade processes, and more… ● National developments and implementations refer to or use CEFACT Recs and standards ● Public services or agencies (e.g. customs, harbours, ports) ● Different actors or sectors (e.g. banking, accounting, agriculture, health) ● CEFACT standards are the reference for electronic exchanges far beyond international trade

8. CEFACT Plenary-2008-French views Resulting opinion and future views-1 Governance and organization of standardization should help to achieve convergence, maintain consistency and insure compatibility of the works of various entities CEFACT has a preeminent role: to be continued and be improved  France believes that collaborative processes must be enhanced  For Europe: mutual knowledge and collaboration with the Commission

9. CEFACT Plenary-2008-French views Resulting opinion and future views-2 Reference could be made to the outcomes of the European Interoperability Framework Info Day (June 2008)  Identified the semantic interoperability (in fact harmonization of business processes and data exchanges) as a critical issue  Recommended to focus in this direction the development of information systems. At the international level, authorities should also push to promote in CEFACT a role of platform for convergence.  And CEFACT needs to develop its own promotion!

10. CEFACT Plenary-2008-French views UN/CEFACT S IMPLE, T RANSPARENT AND E FFECTIVE P ROCESSES FOR G LOBAL B USINESS.