12.20.10
FFII and OFE Respond to Publication of European Interoperability Framework (EIF) Version 2
Summary: The Foundation for a Free Information Infrastructure (FFII) and Openforum Europe (OFE) add their own interpretations of EIFv2
DURING the weekend we attempted to put together all the notable feedback to EIFv2 [1, 2] (also in Spanish), which was just debated by a lot of people in Identi.ca shortly after it had been released. A day or so later (after some reading and consultation) came formal statements and most of them are positive on the face of it.
The FFII points out that FSFE’s statement (also in French) is “positive”:
#FSFE also positive about European Interoperability Framework
“So far only a single EIF “troll” + American stakeholders,” FFII wrote to Dana Blankenhorn, “apparently less relevant for European interoperability.” Here is the FFII’s own press release which starts as follows:
The European Commission adopted a communication “Towards interoperability for European public services”, introducing the second incarnation of the European Interoperability Framework (EIF) and the European Interoperability Strategy (EIS) [1]. This week the Commission also published fresh Horizontal Guidelines [2] which bloc-exempt patent cartels from competition enforcement.
“The European Interoperability Framework is a legend. It’s hard, indeed, to make impact that compares with the first EIF. Unfortunately the lobby watered European interoperability enforcement down. It’s amazing that EU-Commissioner Šefčovič overcame indecision, and presents their ‘wet’ documents.”, says FFII Vice-President Rene Mages.
Openforum Europe issued this press release:
OFE Press Release – After over two years of controversial debate and under intense scrutiny from the information and communication technology (ICT) industry, the European Commission has shown courage by adopting a bold set of guidelines to help national, regional and local governments throughout the European Union make their computer systems all work properly together.
The European Interoperability Framework (EIF) adopted by the Commission on Thursday is a landmark policy document because it attempts to draw a line under the accepted practices of the past and the present, and it ushers in a new era where governments can be contacted by their citizens and by each other without having to buy the same brand of software.
The European administration-backed OSOR covered the “Commission’s Communication on Interoperability” as follows:
On the 16th of December 2010, the European Commission has adopted the Communication “Towards interoperability for European public services”, to establish a common approach for Member States public administrations, to help citizens and businesses to profit fully from the EU’s Single Market.
Since it’s a European thing there’s not much room for more responses from other not-for-profit organisations. █
