[odf-discuss] URGENT: Support threatened open standards in Europe before Sept 15, 2007

[Lars Noodén]

Hi, Nicolas,

What has been the result?

-Lars

Nicolas Pettiaux wrote:
> On June 29 2007, the European Commission agency IDABC published
> document written on contract by Gartner initiating the revision of the
> European Interoperability Framework (EIF) and the Architecture
> Guidelines (AG) .
> 
> The first version of this very important document has been published
> in 2004 and introduced a strong support and request for open standards
> and xml for the exchange of data between administrations within
> Europe, as well as with the citizens. This has been relayed and used
> in many countries to support open standards as well.
> 
> This is now threatened in this new report EIF v2.0 by Gartner
> 
> This second version, not yet endorsed by the European Commission, nor
> by the member states, but that could well enter soon such an
> endorsement process, wants to update the previous version of the
> European Interoperability Framework but, contrary to the first
> version, it threatens explictely the good process of more open
> standards that had been a long time push of IDABC.
> 
> (quote from the report)
> " Yet, Gartner recommends not to focus on the use of open standards
> per se. Whether open or not, standards are to further the deployment
> of public services. EIF v2.0 should facilitate the most profitable
> business model(s) of cost versus public value, under proper
> recognition of intellectual property rights, if any. The support for
> multiple standards allows a migration towards open standards when
> appropriate in the long run."
> " The use of 'open source' software may further the deployment of
> public services. However again, whether open source or not, it is the
> most viable software that should be allowed to survive in the
> infrastructure. So again, EIF v2.0 should facilitate multiple options
> to co-exist, and to compete."
> 
> These are unacceptable drawbacks from the previous "European
> Interoperability Framework for pan-European eGovernment Services"
> (Version 1.0, 2004, page 9) that promoted the use of open standards as
> defined in this European definition, the use of free and open source
> softwares as well as XML, the Extensible Markup Language.
> 
> Without our reactions, this could be inforced in the paper and
> thereafter be endorsed by the European Commission and made effective
> to the member states.
> 
> We need to react before September 15, 2007.
> 
> Please help us gather these reactions and comments on
> http://www.openstandards.eu/
> 
> We shall transmit them to the EC while keeping an archive.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Nicolas
>