30.11.2011   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 349/4

(1)

The Europe 2020 strategy, as set out in the Communication from the Commission entitled ‘Europe 2020: A strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth’ (1), sets out a vision of Europe’s social market economy for the 21st century enjoying the full economic and social benefits of a digital society. It emphasises the importance of reinforcing the growth of the European economy while delivering high levels of employment productivity, a low carbon economy and social cohesion.

(2)

One of the flagship initiatives of the Europe 2020 strategy, set out in the Communication from the Commission entitled ‘A Digital Agenda for Europe’ (2), gives a prominent role to improved standard setting in the field of information and communication technologies (ICT) to ensure interoperability between ICT applications, services and products with a view to reducing fragmentation of the digital single market while at the same time promoting innovation and competition.

(3)

Another flagship initiative of the Europe 2020 strategy, set out in the Communication from the Commission entitled ‘An integrated industrial policy for the globalisation era — Putting competitiveness and sustainability at centre stage’ (3), calls on Europe to develop a standards system that meets the expectations of both market players and European public authorities while also promoting European influence beyond the single market in the globalised economy.

(4)

The Communication from the Commission entitled ‘A strategic vision for European standards: Moving forward to enhance and accelerate the sustainable growth of the European economy by 2020’ (4), states that in 2011 the Commission will create and chair a dedicated multi-stakeholder platform to advise it on matters relating to the implementation of ICT standardisation policy, including the work programme for ICT standardisation, priority-setting in support of legislation and policies and identification of specifications developed by global ICT standards development organisations.

(5)

It is therefore necessary to set up a multi-stakeholder platform in the field of ICT standardisation and to define its tasks and its structure.

(6)

The multi-stakeholder platform should be composed of representatives of national authorities of Member States and EFTA countries, stakeholder organisations representing industry, small and medium-sized enterprises, consumers and other societal stakeholders as well as European and international standardisation bodies and other non-profit making organisations, which are professional societies, industry or trade associations or other membership organisations active in Europe that within their area of expertise develop standards in the field of ICT.

(7)

Rules on disclosure of information by members of the platform should be provided for, without prejudice to the Commission’s rules on security as set out in the Annex to Commission Decision 2001/844/EC, ECSC, Euratom.

(8)

Personal data should be processed in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data,

(a)

advise the Commission on all matters related to European ICT standardisation policy and its effective implementation;

(b)

advise the Commission on its ICT standardisation work programme and its priorities;

(c)

identify potential future ICT standardisation needs in support of European legislation, policies and public procurement;

(d)

advise the Commission on possible standardisation mandates concerning ICT for European standardisation bodies and activities which may be carried out by other bodies in cooperation with European standardisation bodies;

(e)

advise the Commission on the progress of ICT standardisation and related activities in support of legislation and policies;

(f)

advise the Commission on technical specifications in the field of ICT which are not national, European or international standards with regard to the requirements set out in Annex II to the proposed regulation on European standardisation (5);

(g)

advise the Commission on cooperation between standards development organisations and European standardisation bodies to improve the integration of their work in European ICT standardisation and ensure availability of ICT standards supporting interoperability;

(h)

gather information on the work programmes of ICT standards development organisations to help ensure coordination and avoid unnecessary duplication or fragmentation of efforts.

(a)

other initiatives that may be taken at Union level to address barriers to ICT interoperability;

(b)

national, European and international initiatives concerning standardisation in support of ICT interoperability.

(a)

up to 18 organisations representing industry, small and medium-sized enterprises and societal stakeholders;

(b)

up to 14 European and international standardisation bodies and other non-profit making organisations which are professional societies, industry or trade associations or other membership organisations active in Europe that within their area of expertise develop standards in the field of ICT.