The European Commission has launched a public consultation on Standards for the Digital Single Market. The EC is asking for priorities for standards in important technology areas critical to achieving the single market.
The consultation is open until 4 January 2016*.
The contributions to the consultation “will serve to build an ICT Priority Standards Plan, as set out in the Digital Single Market Strategy presented by the Commission on 6 May.”
The Commission is looking for input on standards in:
- 5G communications;
- Cloud computing;
- Cybersecurity;
- Data driven services and applications;
- Digitisation of European Industry;
- eHealth;
- Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS);
- Internet of Things;
- Smart Cities and efficient energy use.
The EC announcement quotes Andrus Ansip, European Commission Vice-President for the Digital Single Market, as saying: "We need common standards and interoperability to make the best of fast-growing sectors such as cloud computing and the Internet of Things. We also need them to promote e-government services around Europe and a more inclusive e-society. Systems must be able to connect and ”talk” to other digital devices – across countries and sectors. Europe should be on top of standard-setting worldwide".
Rolling plan
In 2011, the EC set up a European Multi Stakeholders Platform on ICT standardisation, to involve stakeholders to assist the EC with its ICT standardisation policy. The expert group helps the EC with the annual updates of the Rolling Plan on ICT Standardisation. This identifies the policy priorities for standardisation, standards and ICT technical specifications.
* on 13 October, the deadline was extended from 16 December to 4 January.
More information:
Survey on ICT standards to help achieve a Digital Single Market
Digital Single Market strategy
European Standards
Rolling Plan for ICT Standardisation