The “Specifications for Interoperable Access to eDelivery and eSafe Systems” provides basic technical specifications for functionality and interfaces of open software modules to enable cross-border interoperability of different eDelivery and eSafe systems and to implement a secure interoperable connection for data and document exchange between the heterogeneous infrastructures of different countries, meeting the functional and security requirements of each solution in a fully interconnected way. The proposed solution incorporates existing national infrastructures by combining their positive aspects, gaining benefits of results in similar fields/topics of sibling large scale projects such as STORK (Pan European Proxy Services - PEPS) and PEPPOL (Business Document Exchange Network- BusDox and e-Signature Validation Infrastructure). (Source: D3.2. Specifications for interoperable access to eDelivery and eSafe systems) Context Businesses seeking to expand into other countries often struggle to comply with all the regulations they need to follow. Applying for licenses, permits and completing other administrative procedures in another country can be very complicated. SPOCS (Simple Procedures Online for Cross- Border Services) is a large-scale pilot project launched by the European Commission in May 2009 that aims to overcome these obstacles. It will provide seamless electronic procedures by building cross- border solutions based on your country’s existing systems. For example: An Italian real estate agent wants to expand his business to Bremen, Germany. The information provided by the Bremen PSC does not currently specify the Italian documents required. Will he be able to find his way through, including the information from his own home office? Will the transaction be secure? Yes, SPOCS will allow him to do all the administrative procedures online and cross-border via the Point of Single Contact! The “Specifications for Interoperable Access to eDelivery and eSafe Systems” is one of the deliverables form WP 3 of the SPOCS project. (Source: http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/services/services-dir/index_en.htm) Future plans The SPOCS process has two main waves: • The first wave of pilots includes Austria, Germany, Greece, Italy and Poland. The pilots in these countries went live in July with the professions of Travel Agent, Real Estate Agent and Master Builder. • The second wave encompasses the countries that joined SPOCS during the extension process: Lithuania, Portugal and Slovenia. The second wave will go live in 2012 with the additional professions of Architect Travel Agent and Tourist Entertainment Companies. (Source: http://www.eu-spocs.eu/images/stories/Pilot.factsheet.final.pdf)