Geneva, 10 Nov P. Potgieser EU initiatives in the e-Business domain Geneva, 10 November 2009 P. Potgieser

Geneva, 10 Nov P. Potgieser Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs Completion of Single Market Promote e-business  Single Euro Payment Area Key relevance of ICT Driving forces

Geneva, 10 Nov P. Potgieser ICT related activities DG Entr Holistic approach eBSN e-Business e-Skills e-Invoicing ICT Standardi- sation

Geneva, 10 Nov P. Potgieser e-BSN - The e-Business Support Network: enhancing ICT and e-Business uptake A network of 200 national and regional ICT and e-Business policy makers and experts from 32 EU Member States Offers a “one-stop-shop” on e-Business Policies for SMEs Shapes policy trends and supports policy coordination

Geneva, 10 Nov P. Potgieser e-BSN: The e-Business Policy evolution Second phase: Towards Policies that seek to stimulate the Innovative potential of SMEs. They promote innovative business models enabled by ICT and eBusiness First phase: 2000 – 2003 Policies Sponsoring basic ICT infrastructure and Internet Connectivity Third phase: 2006 – today Towards sector Specific eBusiness policies. These help SMEs participate in global digital supply chains in specific industry and services sectors

Geneva, 10 Nov P. Potgieser Sector-specific pilot actions Streamline entire sectors by digitising whole supply chains helping companies use ICT-enabled solutions One large-scale pan-European pilot action in the textile/clothing and footwear sectors started January 2008 ( tcf.eu/) tcf.eu/ More sectors to be supported first half 2009 Other countries have been increasingly deploying such sector-specific eBusiness policy approach, e.g. ICT-SMEs 2010 (FR), Prozeus (DE) or ‘connected digitally’ (NL)

Geneva, 10 Nov P. Potgieser Sector studies  Chemical industries  Furniture  Steel  Retail  Transport & logistics  Banking Cross-sector topic studies  RFID adoption and impact  Intellectual Property for ICT producing SMEs  ICT and e-business implications for energy consumption  Economic impacts and drivers of ICT adoption and diffusion Impact on Employment Productivity (process and production costs) Innovation The Sectoral e-Business To assess and measure the impact of ICT on...  enterprises  sectors  the economy in general To highlight barriers for ICT uptake To identify public policy challenges To provide a forum for debate with stakeholders  from industry  from policy

Geneva, 10 Nov P. Potgieser The European e-Skills Agenda Background  Growing e-skills shortages in Europe  Fragmented approach and cyclical problem (bubble burst)  European e-Skills Forum and ICT Task Force Report (2006)  Long term problem requiring a coherent and consistent agenda ICT Industry led-initiative  e-Skills Industry Leadership Board (06/2007) EU Policy Communications  COM(2007) 496: “e-Skills for the 21st Century: Fostering Competitiveness, Growth and Jobs” (07/09/2007)  e-Inclusion Initiative

Geneva, 10 Nov P. Potgieser Implementing the e-Skills Strategy Good Progress in 2008:  EU e-Competence Framework,  European e-Skills and Careers Portal, htttp://eskills.eun.orghtttp://eskills.eun.org  Successful Multi-stakeholder Partnerships  Report on the Impact of Global Sourcing Future work ( ) will concentrate on:  European ICT Curriculum guidelines  Relevant fiscal and financial incentives  Better and greater use of e-learning  EU e-Skills Week: awareness raising campaign (1Q2010)

Geneva, 10 Nov P. Potgieser An efficient European ICT standardisation policy is key in support of innovation and competitiveness of European enterprises. At the same time, the formal and unofficial standardisation systems should combine their efforts to better respond to the needs of the society. DG ENTR study ( ) Open event of 12/2/2008 Steering Committee ICT Standardisation Policy - Background

Geneva, 10 Nov P. Potgieser Stakeholders’ Expectations Linked to market and policy developments and thus supporting competitiveness and innovation Accommodate the dynamics of the ICT sector (infrastructures and applications) Allow for fast standard setting to provide industry/SMEs with high quality standards which balance competitiveness expectations with societal needs Re-position EU standardisation at global level and strengthen co-operation EU wide and globally Ensure consumer satisfaction Strengthen the internal market by fostering reference to standards in legislation / policy on the basis of common criteria for processes Increase quality, coherence and consistency of ICT standards Support implementation of standards

Geneva, 10 Nov P. Potgieser The White Paper [COM(2009) 324] The White Paper of 3 July 2009 suggests some policy options: Defining the attributes which make ICT standards eligible for association with EU legislation and policies Updating the public procurement provisions of Council Decision 87/95/EEC Fostering synergy between ICT research, innovation and standardisation Implementing clear, transparent and balanced IPR policies Enabling the referencing of specific fora and consortia standards in relevant EU legislation and policies subject to a positive evaluation with regard to the above attributes Creating a permanent stakeholders’ platform

Geneva, 10 Nov P. Potgieser Attributes for Eligibility (1) Standardisation Process Openness: The standardisation development process occurs within a non-profit making organisation on the basis of open decision making accessible to all interested parties. The open standardisation process is driven by the relevant stakeholder categories and reflects user requirements. Consensus: The standardisation process is collaborative and consensus based. The process does not favour any particular stakeholder. Balance: The standardisation process is accessible at any stage of development and decision making to relevant stakeholders. Participation of all interested categories of stakeholders is sought with a view to achieving balance. Transparency: The standardisation process is accessible to all interested parties and all information concerning technical discussions and decision making is archived and identified. Information on (new) standardisation activities is widely announced through suitable and accessible means. Consideration and response is given to comments by interested parties.

Geneva, 10 Nov P. Potgieser Attributes for Eligibility (2) Standards Maintenance: Ongoing support and maintenance of published standards, including swift adaptation to new developments which prove their necessity, efficiency and interoperability, is guaranteed over a long period. Availability: Resulting standards are publicly available for implementation and use at reasonable terms (including for a reasonable fee or free of charge). Intellectual property rights: IP essential to the implementation of standards is licensed to applicants on a (fair) reasonable and non-discriminatory basis ((F)RAND), which includes, at the discretion of the IPR holder, licensing essential IP without compensation. Relevance: The standard is effective and relevant. Standards need to respond to market needs and regulatory requirements, especially when those requirements are expressed in standardisation mandates. Neutrality and stability: Standards should whenever possible be performance oriented rather than based on design or descriptive characteristics. They should not distort the (global) market and should maintain the capacity for implementers to develop competition and innovation based upon them. Additionally, and in order to enhance their stability, standards should be based on advanced scientific and technological developments. Quality: The quality and level of detail are sufficient to permit the development of a variety of competing implementations of interoperable products and services. Standardised interfaces are not hidden or controlled by anyone other than standard setting organisations.

Geneva, 10 Nov P. Potgieser Ongoing and Future Work Public consultation (until 15 September 2009) Impact assessment (January 2010?) Proposal for the revision of Council Decision 87/95 and/or Directive 98/34/EC (mid-2010)?  In co-ordination with the horizontal standardisation review

Geneva, 10 Nov P. Potgieser Further Information White Paper Public Consultation ICT Standardisation - DG ENTR

Geneva, 10 Nov P. Potgieser e-Invoicing… Simplifies processes, reduces administrative and financial costs, facilitates transition to new business models Links the procurement and payment process. Full electronic invoice integration can generate substantial cash flow efficiencies and cost reductions Benefits apply to both the sender and the receiver of an invoice. Can be reaped in private sector and public sector alike. At EU level, savings potential of moving to e-Invoicing has been quantified at €40 billion annually over 6-year period (study undertaken on behalf of the Commission). Positive environmental effects by reducing paper consumption

Geneva, 10 Nov P. Potgieser Expert Group on e-Invoicing - Mandate Defined in Commission Decision of 31 Oct. 2007: Identify:  shortcomings in current regulatory framework  e-invoicing business requirements  relevant e-invoicing data elements Propose:  responsibilities for standardisation bodies and time schedule  European e-Invoicing Framework (EEI)

Geneva, 10 Nov P. Potgieser End Result: EEI Framework Achieves interoperability of e-Invoicing solutions Basis for common business rules and technical standards Increase incentives for electronic trade Remove barriers to e-invoicing

Geneva, 10 Nov P. Potgieser The future e-Invoicing environment What should be avoided?What is the objective?  A fragmented e-Invoicing environment with insular national solutions and standards. High barriers for cross-border e-Invoicing.  An open and interoperable e-Invoicing environment providing common ground for competing solutions. Strong growth of e- Invoicing – both domestically and cross-border.  Benefits of fully integrated e- Invoicing are mainly reaped by large enterprises with tailor-made and complex solutions.  SMEs, public administrations and large enterprises all benefit alike from an e-Invoicing environment that enables simple cost-effective as well as more sophisticated approaches – according to the respective needs  Existence of only one specific interoperability model (bilateral, 3- corner, or 4-corner)  Level playing field allowing for bilateral e- Invoicing approaches as well as for value- adding business models through invoice- or payment-service providers  Existence of multiple different invoice content standards  A target ‘ semantic data model ’ towards which existing standards will converge

Geneva, 10 Nov P. Potgieser e-Invoicing Expert Group Deliverables Delivered so far…  Mid-Term Report  Code of Practice on e-invoicing in Europe Provide guidance to tax authorities and businesses European e-Invoicing (EEI) Framework To come by end of 2009

Geneva, 10 Nov P. Potgieser E-invoice Content Standards – Link to supply chain and payments Buyer Supplier Order / e-signature Offer Statements - tax etc Payment Demand estimate Payment Guarantee Direct debit adv e-Invoice Invitation to tender Deviation info Delivery Guarantee Delivery Information Account statement Payment Assurance

Geneva, 10 Nov P. Potgieser BuyerSeller Buyers bank Sellers bank Goods / Services Information Exchange UN/CEFACT ISO E-invoice Content Standards – Link to supply chain and payments

Geneva, 10 Nov P. Potgieser Expert Group provisional recommendations on e-Invoicing standardisation The long-term e-Invoice landscape needs to contain e-Invoice content standards, but in fewer formats and expressions than exist today as this is a barrier for mass adoption. In this context, the Expert Group makes the following recommendations: R4.1: The EG recommends that the UN/CEFACT Cross Industry Invoice (CII) v.2 is adopted by all actors within both the private and public sector, as the common reference semantic data model upon which future e-invoice content standard solutions are based. CII v.2 is currently the only international data model that covers the requirements of different industries and sectors. It provides the required connection between the various supply chain messages and is integrated with financial services requirements. UN/CEFACT products and standards are recognised and accepted globally. R4.5: The EG recommends that UN/CEFACT and ISO, as global standards organisations, should continue to collaborate on the development and maintenance of the CII and implement the model in their own interoperable methodologies and data dictionaries to enable maximum integration of the procurement, invoicing, payment and reconciliation processes. This will continue to foster end-to-end STP and will support migration to SEPA. It will simplify message conversion, integration and communication. It will also help to minimise implementation costs for SMEs. R4.8: The EG recommends that UN/CEFACT as the supplier of CII should deliver the mechanism to cater for such standardised extensions and recording of subsequent variant usage of the CII and to provide more detailed user guidance on the CII. Recommendations quoted from final draft version of the Final Report. Subject to approval by the Expert Group

Geneva, 10 Nov P. Potgieser Observations It is very hard to find non-technical and non-development-related information about deliverables of UN/CEFACT itself:  Broken links, fragmented multiple websites, unclear status, … The information available is not suitable for an audience coming from a public or private sector  Progress is measured in ODP, while dd/mm/yyyy would bring the message The way in which information and deliverables of UN/CEFACT are disseminated is not very well known, as is the way in which stakeholders could interact It is very hard to find non-technical and non-development-related information about the relation between developments and deliverables of standardisation in general.  This lack of information was the driving force behind the meeting organised by the Commission in 2008 about the UN/CEFACT – OASIS/UBL convergence

Geneva, 10 Nov P. Potgieser Further Information DG ENTR unit web site: Contact European Commission Enterprise and Industry Directorate-General Directorate: Innovation Policy Unit D4: ICT for Competitiveness & Innovation B-1049 Brussels fax: