The European e-business interoperability forum will open on
18 February 2004 with the aim of removing the obstacles to
a widespread adoption of e-business in Europe. The forum
will seek support and cooperation from stakeholders across
the board, including industry, small and medium-sized
enterprises (SMEs), public sector and consumer
associations.
E-business interoperability simply means the ability to
exchange and process information between consumers and
companies. However, the organisers of the forum say this
requires more than mere technical standards. Their approach
will also be to define the common business processes at the
root of the technical standards that are expected to emerge
from the forum.
One of the key functions of the forum will be to provide
the Commission with policy advice on the implementation of
the e-Europe 2005 Action Plan with respect to
interoperability issues. It will be made up of many
technical groups working on specific issues.
The e-business interoperability forum is established
until the end of 2005. It is expected to adopt a work
programme of issues to address within the first six months
of its launch.