[EuroPython] URGENT: Support threatened open standards in Europe before Sept 15, 2007

[Nicolas Pettiaux]

This may be a little off topix, but I think it may also be interesting
for many of you.

Any suggestion, related article or column you may write, is welcome.

Best regards,

Nicolas

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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

--
Nicolas Pettiaux - email: nicolas.pettiaux at ael.be
Utiliser des formats ouverts et des logiciels libres -
http://www.passeralinux.org.
Pour la bureautique, les seuls formats ISO sont ceux de http://fr.openoffice.org